Only 1 percent of world’s squid fisheries sustainably managed
Staff Writer |
Only 1 percent of the world’s squid fisheries are currently classed as being sustainably managed, but there are vast opportunities to improve this figure, especially off the coast of South America, according to a new report.
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The latest document on the global squid sector by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is the first-ever sector report focused on SFP’s Target 75 Initiative, a global movement launched last year that sets the goal of seeing producers of 75 percent of the world’s seafood operating sustainably or improving toward sustainable production by the close of 2020.
According to the report: “With less than 1 percent of global production recognized as sustainable or improving, a great deal of progress is left to be made in large-scale squid fisheries.â€
Despite this, SFP still remains confident that the global squid sector can become a contributor to the Target 75 goal through engagement in some key markets.
According to the report, there are four Chinese and South Korean squid fisheries (Argentine shortfin and jumbo flying squid) operating off the coast of South America which do not appear to be engaged in improvement efforts, yet these fisheries constitute 20 percent of global production.
SFP believes this is the key to boosting sustainability efforts in squid production worldwide.
“The industry can accomplish this through demand from some markets already engaged in sustainability, engaging the markets where those products end up, as well as creating demand for sustainable products from new markets,†SFP said in its report.
SFP also believes that fishery improvement projects (FIPs), managed by an overarching supply chain roundtable (SR) are a valuable tool in boosting global sustainable squid production.
SFP currently facilitates a squid SR that covers major squid fisheries worldwide, and many seafood industry leaders have made use of the SR and its FIPs with positive results. ■