Longfin squid

The L. pealeii stock has been assessed using length-based virtual population analysis, and Surplus production model in 2002, and 2010, but due to absence of reliable biological reference points the stock is mostly managed through Annual Biological Catch (ABC) Limits in U.S. waters (NFSC 2002; Hendrickson and Jacobson 2006; Moustahfid et al., 2009).

There is a need to define biological reference points before any realistic stock assessment can be undertaken for this stock.

Biological reference points have not been estimated for this stock. The most recent stock assessment in 2010 revealed that current “F” reference point is not appropriate for lightly exploited longfin squid stock (NFSC 2011; MAFMC 2009).

F_MSY proxy = 1.24
B_MSY proxy = 80,000 MT

The most recent stock assessment was conducted in 2010, which shows that overfishing was not occurring for the longfin inshore squid stock in NW Atlantic waters of USA (NFSC 2011).

Squid fishery began as early as 1800 in U.S. waters, with longfin squid largely used as bait until 1928. For the period 1928 to 1967, catches ranged from 500-2000 tonnes each year (Lange and Sissenwine 1980). During the 1967-1984 period catches from foreign fishing vessels (averaging 20,130 tonnes) operating in offshore waters dominated the fishery. Since 1987, after the elimination of foreign fishery, domestic fishery was developed, with landings averaging 16,610 mt during the 1987-2009 time period.Landings gradually decreased after the introduction of in-season quotas for the domestic fleet in 2000 (NFSC 2011).

Since 2000, the inshore longfin squid has been managed under the guidelines of the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) several management measures apply for vessels operating in this fishery:

Total Annual Catch limits;
Moratorium on fishery permit;
A minimum codend mesh size of 1 7/8 inches to reduce by-catch of other species in the trawl fishery;
Onboard observers;
Possession limit of 2500 lbs.

Since 2000, the inshore longfin squid has been managed under the guidelines of the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) several management measures apply for vessels operating in this fishery:

Total Annual Catch limits;
Moratorium on fishery permit;
A minimum codend mesh size of 1 7/8 inches to reduce by-catch of other species;
Onboard observers;
Possession limit of 2500 lbs.

None are contemplated under the current management plan.

Compliance is relatively good in this fishery with regular at-sea and dockside monitoring of landings.

The small-mesh bottom trawlers can interact with marine mammals (including pilot whales, common dolphins) species and several large pelagic (swordfish, and a variety of shark, ray, and tuna) species (NOAA 2012).

NOAA is trying to minimise interactions with marine mammals by educating fishermen on actions to undertake in the eventuality of interaction of trawl gear with marine mammals, and by communicating real-time observations on hotspots of marine mammal interactions to the fishermen (NOAA 2012).

Some of the by-catch species caught in this fishery include butterfish, hakes, Illex squid, fluke, herring, spiny dogfish, and Atlantic mackerel, swordfish, tuna, sharks and rays (NOAA 2012).

The habitat characteristics of Longfin Inshore Squid, Loligo pealeii are described in detail in NOAA (2005).

“Squid are found over sandy or muddy habitats, which are less sensitive to impacts from trawling than other habitat types, such as coral” (NOAA 2012).