The Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) is a combination of two former SRs, one covering Asia-Pacific and the other covering South American squid fisheries. The merge took effect in March 2017, following a joint SR meeting at Seafood Expo North America in Boston.
Both SRs were initiated by European squid importers and buyers, along with North American importers and buyers for the Asia-Pacific region, who recognized that addressing many of the sustainability challenges found in the world’s squid fisheries would require a collaborative, pre-competitive approach from industry stakeholders.
Early efforts focused on the Chinese mitre squid, Japanese flying squid, and Peruvian jumbo flying squid fisheries, as these were important fisheries to many of the initial SR members. Participating importers and buyers were able to engage with and communicate to their Chinese and Peruvian domestic suppliers and national fishing authorities in both countries regarding the importance of sustainability to the global market.
While initial SR efforts were focused on promoting fishery improvement projects (FIPs) in these specific squid fisheries, some companies participated in SR meetings despite having no association with the fisheries. These companies hope to take lessons learned from this experience and apply them to other squid fisheries in the region, once the S
R has developed a first assessment of these fisheries (through FishSource profiles) and the SR’s efforts expand.
The most recent T75 sector update report for squid was released in early 2019 and details the state of the sector. According to the report’s findings, 14 percent of the global production is currently considered sustainable or improving, up from 0.03 percent in the 2017 T75 squid sector report. The US Northeast Longfin Inshore Squid Bottom Trawl Fishery became the first squid fishery to achieve MSC certification.
It is possible that existing supply chain leverage and interest may be able to influence more than 57 percent of global production. The key to reaching T75 is engaging Chinese and South Korean fisheries operating in the international waters off South America. The industry can accomplish this through demand from some markets already engaged in sustainability, engaging the markets where those products end up, and creating demand for sustainable products from new markets.
Fisheries and/or FIPs Covered:
At present, the roundtable focuses on a number of squid fisheries found worldwide. Please find an overview of all T75 relevant fisheries, including those currently not prioritized by the SR, here.
The following FIPs are supported and monitored:
Shantou-Taiwan Chinese common squid - jigging/single trawl FIP
Mexico Gulf of California giant squid - jig FIP
Peruvian jumbo flying squid - jig FIP
East China Sea and Yellow Sea Japanese flying squid - trawl FIP
Improvement Needs:
Asia-Pacific
- Address data deficiencies in areas of recruitment, landings data, fishing effort, bycatch, gear impacts, identifying spawning zones, and PET species interactions.
- Based on data collection, implement and enforce the regulation of fishing effort, as well as seasonal and fishing zone closures, to protect spawning stocks.
- Strengthen enforcement of existing squid fishery regulations, including closed fishing areas and seasons, in order to address IUU fishing.
- Work with domestic supply chains in producing countries to engage distant water squid fleets in high seas improvement efforts.
South America
- Develop fishery assessments for Patagonian squid (Loligo gahi) fisheries.
- Update fishery assessments on the jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) fisheries.
- Strengthen enforcement of existing national squid fishery regulations and EEZ waters control, in order to minimize impacts at stock level of the fishing activity happening in international waters.
- Mobilize Argentine shortfin (Illex argentinus) fishing countries to collectively establish an RFMO-type management body for high seas fisheries.
- Strengthen regulatory and enforcement management of regional and international waters of jumbo flying squid fisheries at the South Pacific RFMO level.
Current Objectives:
In general, the Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) objectives focus on monitoring sustainability status and issues relating to the region’s squid fisheries, engaging supply chains and local producers in fishery improvement efforts, and monitoring the progress of current squid FIP efforts toward long-term sustainability of squid in domestic and international markets.
In South America, the SR has the following overall goals:
- Support the efforts of the Sociedad Nacional de Industrias (SNI) to set up a FIP for the Peruvian jumbo flying squid fishery.
- Develop and update squid fisheries assessments as a first step toward identifying areas in need of improvement in South American squid fisheries.
- Support the efforts of the Committee for the Sustainable Management of the Southern Pacific Jumbo Flying Squid (CALAMASUR) to improve management and enforcement at the RFMO level.
- Engage Chinese and South Korean fleets operating in international waters in improvement efforts for Argentine shortfin and jumbo flying squid.
In particular, objectives through the end of 2019 are as follows:
- Initiate a FIP in the Argentine shortfin squid fishery within Argentinian EEZ waters.
- Support the efforts of the Chinese (Shantou) Mitre Squid FIP and secure participation and funding from relevant SR participants and supply chains.
- Ensure all published FIPs receive an A-C SFP FIP progress rating.
- Ensure the East China Sea and Yellow Sea Japanese flying squid - trawl FIP and the Peruvian jumbo flying squid - jig FIP workplans and public reporting are available on FisheryProgress.org.
- Encourage and support IMARPE’s efforts to develop a stock assessment model that is applicable in assessing stock status of all jumbo flying squid fisheries under South Pacific RFMO influence.
- Fully develop FishSource profiles for Patagonian squid (Loligo gahi).
- Publicly announce the Indian squid (Loligo duvauceli) FIP and develop a workplan.
Action Recommendations for Suppliers:
- Work with supply chains to initiate FIPs in fisheries where improvements are needed.
- When sourcing from squid fisheries that are managed under seasonal closures, SR participants should ensure suppliers implement no-purchase policies during fishing moratoriums.
- Exported squid products from the region are often sourced from a mix of various squid fisheries, so importers and buyers should ensure that their suppliers can identify the individual source fisheries.
- Reach out to other supply chain companies to encourage their participation and engagement on the SR.
- Publicly support the establishment of a FIP for the Peruvian jumbo flying squid fishery and work with Peruvian national industry to encourage the formation of the FIP.
- Publicly support IMARPE’s effort to develop a stock assessment methodology that is applicable to all jumbo flying squid fisheries within the South Pacific RFMO.
- Publicly support establishing a shortfin squid FIP in the Argentinian EEZ waters.
- Promote and sponsor the update and development of squid fisheries assessments.
- Support efforts such as the US East Coast squid fishery’s MSC certification process.
If you would like more information about the Supply Chain Roundtable or wish to support it, please contact Sam Grimley or Pedro Ferreiro.
A full summary of past progress, including details from past quarterly updates, can be found here.
Quarterly Global Squid SR Update – April to June 2019
This briefing provides an update on progress, activities, and news in the areas of interest to the SR. It also indicates any actions and further support needed.
1. Improvements in SR Target 75 priority fisheries
Please find an overview of fisheries identified in the 2019 T75 Squid Sector Report, including those currently not necessarily prioritized by the SR, here.
Peru Jumbo Flying Squid: Peruvian Jumbo Flying Squid FIP - Jig
Update: The FIP is now published as a comprehensive FIP on FisheryProgress.org.
SFP has been working with processors and exporters to build an association that helps finance and support the FIP’s activities.
Further support needed: Encourage remaining fishing associations to join the FIP. Contact Pedro Ferreiro at SFP for more information.
Chile Jumbo Flying Squid
Update: Enrique Alonso from SFP met with producers who are interested in starting a FIP. The producers have been introduced to the FIP funding model of the Peru JFS FIP and will reach out to their processors. A meeting with representatives of the fishery is planned.
Further support needed: SR participants to confirm their interest in improvements to their supply chains; contact Pedro Ferreiro.
Argentina, Argentine Shortfin Squid
Update: Pedro Ferreiro from SFP met with suppliers at the Brussels Seafood Show to update them on the SR FIP interest and CAPA position.
Further support needed: SR participants express support for FiP initiation and CAPA efforts. Contact Pedro Ferreiro for more information.
China, Japanese Flying Squid (JFS):East China Sea and Yellow Sea Japanese Flying Squid FIP - Trawl
Update: The FIP continues to make progress and is supported by SR participants. O2 and SFP are exploring the idea of developing guidance on data collection and use of best practices for data-poor fisheries.
Further support needed: Additional support for this FIP is needed. Please contact Songlin Wang for more information.
Indian Squid:
Update: Some SR participants have reached out to the FIP to express interest in participating.
Further support needed: We encourage any interested companies to contact Vinod Malayilethu for more information.
Mexico Jumbo Flying Squid:
Update: Due to shortages in production, there is a lack of interest from SR participants in the fishery. This situation has been highlighted by FIP stakeholders as the main drawback to getting consistency in Mexican market supply, and this was also expressed by Mexican buyers. Progress updates on this FIP can be found here.
Further support needed: Monitor and support progress of the FIP, where needed. For more information on this FIP contact Juan Pedro Vela.
2. Support to established FIPs and improvement efforts
Please find an overview of all existing FIPs and improvement efforts, their current progress rating, and status here.
Update: SFP held a Q2 webinar in early June with 12 participants where FIP support opportunities were raised.
Further support needed: None. Currently all existing FIPs are rated A-C, according to SFP’s FIP Progress Ratings.
3. Support for mitigation of overarching fishery/FIP sustainability issues
Relevant News: SFP held a Q2 webinar on June 5 with 12 participants, covering updates on South Pacific RFMO engagement, South Korean engagement, SR funding, and relevant squid improvements.
The stakeholder letter respectfully requesting that the South Pacific RFMO take management actions to ensure the long-term sustainability of the jumbo flying squid resource, specifically by developing an acceptable stock assessment, improving data collection through observers, and implementing a vessel monitoring system, now has 15 companies signed on. The letter will be sent to US and EU SPRFMO delegates.
Further support needed: SFP is asking relevant industry and NGO stakeholders to sign the letter to the SPRFMO. Please contact Pedro Ferreiro directly to sign the letter.
4. Expansion of the SR
SFP is in the process of identifying buyers of squid from Indonesia and Thailand, and South Korean and Chinese fisheries (in their own EEZ and overseas).
Update: Northcoast Seafoods joined the SR in April.
Further support needed:Connect any relevant South Korean companies with SFP.