Squid: Long-finned

Boned squid, Boston squid, Common squid, Winter squid

Ika

Today squid, or calamari, is a staple on many restaurant menus and is becoming increasingly popular for home chefs. In the US there is a very large squid fishery; however, most of the domestic catch is exported. Most of the squid consumed in North America comes from overseas.
In international waters, squid is mostly caught using jigs or trawls that have low to moderate levels of bycatch. All squid grow quickly and reproduce at a young age, making them highly resilient to fishing pressure. Their success is largely dependent on ocean conditions such as temperature and prey availability, and squid abundance does vary from year to year and by region. Squid fisheries on the high seas are problematic because regulations do not exist or are rarely enforced and squid abundance is largely unknown. Squid also play an important role in marine food webs as both predator and prey, and are an important source of food for marine mammals.

Long-finned squid have a very low age of maturity, a high growth rate, short lifespan, and high reproductive potential. These factors combine to make squid resilient to fishing pressure.

Since 1998 the quarterly fishing mortality rates have been at or below acceptable levels while the biomass estimates have been increasing. The long and short-term trends for abundance is flat and increasing respectively. Stock status is a low conservation concern.

There is bycatch in the long-fin squid fishery, but the severity of this bycatch is uncertain due to reported discrepancies. Data in some cases is inconclusive due to inconsistent observer coverage. There is interaction with some threatened species, but the significance of these interactions is unclear. The bycatch in the long-fin squid fishery is therefore a moderate conservation concern.

While certain types of trawling can have adverse and long-lasting effects on the impacted habitats, the long-fin trawl fishery occurs primarily on sand habitats. This habitat has been characterized as relatively resilient to the effects of trawling and results in a moderate conservation concern.

Recent stock assessments exist for the long-fin squid fishery and robust information is available. The management regime has been able to respond to changes and concerns in the fishery and annual meetings to set quotas ensure a prompt response to emerging issues. Management is considered highly effective.

Where is this squid caught?

Is it longfin or shortfin squid?

Longfin Squid from the US Atlantic represents a SeaChoice “Best Choice” option

Contaminant levels do not warrant a consumption advisory.

No.