In an effort to improve the science and management of Peru’s jumbo flying squid fishery, the Peruvian fisheries research institute (IMARPE) welcomed expert Patrick Cordue, an internationally recognized stock assessment scientist from New Zealand, during the month of June. Cordue’s visit, which received support from Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), lead to the development of new potential stock assessment models and management tools for jumbo flying squid.
Jumbo flying squid is considered to be the most important single squid species in the global market, according to SFP and IMARPE. Ensuring the sanctity of the stock status of the South Pacific squid species by adjusting how it’s evaluated will have “a significant impact on approximately 30 percent of the global volume of squid caught,” the organizations said in a press release.
“Jumbo flying squid sustains the second-largest national fishery in volume, and is entirely exploited by artisanal fishermen in Peru, with a high social impact. The life cycle of this species shows some space-time complexities related to the variability of the Peruvian sea, which are some of the several challenges for the assessment of this stock,” said Renato Guevara-Carrasco, Director of IMARPE.
Improving the jumbo flying squid fishery in Peru is of interest to several global markets, added SFP’s Enrique Alonso.
“There is a significant push from global markets to improve this fishery—squid is mainly an export commodity, and buyers need to ensure a continuous supply,” Alonso said. “To achieve sustainability, national and regional efforts from research and management authorities of exporting countries are key, when they are coupled with the support of the private sector.”
