Profile updated on 24 August 2021

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Sepioteuthis lessoniana

SPECIES NAME(s)

Bigfin reef squid, Oval squid

The stock structure of Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) in the Philippines is not known which this profile is defined at the management unit level, the Philippines Fishery Management Area 5 (FMA 5), which covers the waters surrounding the province of  Palawan including the Calamianes Island Group (CIG), from Mindoro Strait, Cuyo Pass, West Sulu Sea, and western Palawan waters. FMAs were established in January 2019 (Fisheries Administrative Order 263) to focus on the ecosystem approach to fisheries management. This profile may undergo restructuring in the future as new information comes to light.

The bigfin reef squid is one of three species currently recognized globally (i..e., Sepioteuthis australis, southern reef squid; S. lessoniana, bigfin reef squid; and S. sepioidea, Caribbean reef squid). Only the bigfin reef squid is reported to occur in the Philippines.  However, the bigfin reef squid and the southern reef squid are believed to be cryptic species complexes (so similar in appearance that the boundaries between them are often unclear) (Segawa et al. 1993).  The species as reported is likely to include several very similar and closely related species such as octopus, cuttlefish, and all squids. The official catch records are reported as an aggregate value under the common name “squid” (local name: “pusit”) and not separated by species (see Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA, OpenSTAT),  In the official national fisheries statistics,  records for “squids” species are collectively grouped into “invertebrates”  (e.g., in NSAP Atlas) (Santos et al. 2017). Other local names for bigfin reef squid is “nokos” or “nokus”  (see SeaLifeBase).


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • Several marine protected areas  (MPAs) and MPA networks established.

SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

< 6

Managers Compliance:

< 6

Fishers Compliance:

< 6