Bills currently under review in Chile and Peru may put the world’s largest cephalopod fishery, the jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) fishery, at risk, according to companies participating in a recent sustainability roundtable event.
Companies participating in the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership’s (SFP) Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) emphasized in a release that a proposed Chilean bill being would permit the reintroduction of industrial trawling in certain areas of the country and would run counter to the nation’s existing “squid law,” which specifies the use of selective fishing gear, such as jigging and handlines, that favors resource sustainability while also guaranteeing employment for artisanal communities.
Meanwhile, in Peru, another new law proposes to register 2,000 new vessels authorized to catch jumbo flying squid. This would considerably increase the authorized fleet of around 3,500 vessels and, according to the firms, is concerning considering the fishery has already captured more than 83 percent of its full-year 2026 quota. This would also alter the existing national fishery management plan, which was approved just last year.
Any growth in fishing effort that lacks the backing of robust scientific evaluation can create uncertainty for the entire supply chain, jeopardizing the maintenance of stable, sustainable markets in the long term, SFP said.
“We firmly believe that the sustainability of the jumbo flying squid is a shared objective that benefits all actors in the value chain. Protecting the progress achieved will ensure the future of the fishery, the stability of international markets, and the livelihoods of the communities that depend on this resource,” the Global Squid SR participants said. “We call upon the authorities of Chile and Peru to maintain the management decisions adopted in recent years and avoid measures that imply an increase in fishing pressure on the resource.”
The SR participants said the bills come as Chile and Peru have both made progress in recent years regarding management measures – applied by fisheries managers, research institutes, NGOs, and fishery sector representatives – that have reinforced fishing activity control, improved scientific knowledge about the jumbo flying squid resource, and sponsored more responsible fishery use.
“As buyers committed to responsible sourcing and the sustainability of marine resources, we recognize the significant progress achieved in recent years thanks to the joint efforts of both Chile and Peru,” they said.
Additionally, they expressed “full support for artisanal fishers and all actors who have worked for years to strengthen the responsible management of this fishery.”
The jumbo flying squid fishery supports thousands of fishers, value chain workers, exporters, processors, and buyers who depend on its long-term availability and sustainability for their livelihoods, food security, and social welfare, they noted.
