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LONDON, UK - As governments gather at the United Nations to debate the fate of the world's oceans, a new report from Greenpeace International reveals the fast-growing and largely unregulated squid fishing industry.[1]
"Squids in the Spotlight" uncovers the massive scale of the global squid fishery, which has grown tenfold since 1950 to nearly 5 million tons annually over the past decade and is now threatening marine ecosystems around the world. The meteoric rise of squid fishing and the resulting demand for the species operating out of sight in international waters has no historical precedent, with some areas seeing vessel numbers increase by more than 800% in the past five years.[2 ] In some cases, armadas of over 500 ships have descended on the borders of national waters to plunder the ocean, their collective lights visible from space.[3] Activists are calling for a strong global ocean treaty that could have prevented this situation and will be key to allowing fisheries to expand freely in the future.
"I've seen some of these squid fleets out on the open ocean - at night the ships are lit up like soccer stadiums and it looks like the sea is an industrial mass." said Will McCallum of Greenpeace's Protect the Oceans campaign. “Our oceans are being industrialized: Beyond national waters, it's often a free-for-all. The lack of control over the vast and growing squid fishery worldwide is a glaring example of why current rules to protect the oceans are failing. It's a disturbing sight that I will never forget. But just because this is happening out of sight doesn't mean it should be out of mind.
“This ocean conference is too important to be a forum for discussion: we must act urgently to protect the largest ecosystem on earth. We all rely on the oceans, whether we know it or not: to combat climate change, ensure healthy ecosystems, and ensure food security and livelihoods for millions of people around the world. We urgently need a strong global ocean treaty that will allow us to create a network of marine protected areas around the world and slow the increasing industrialization of our global commons.”
Squid are a vital species. Both as predators and prey, they sustain entire food webs, meaning a decline in populations would have disastrous consequences for marine life and coastal communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods and food security. However, as most squid fisheries remain almost entirely unregulated, fishing vessels can operate with little control or monitoring of their catch. There are currently no specific regulatory and surveillance systems in place to monitor the global trade in squid. In 2019, just three fishing nations were responsible for nearly 60% of the world's squid catch.
Governments are meeting starting today to negotiate a global ocean treaty for international waters that cover nearly half the planet (43%). Nearly 5 million people have supported Greenpeace's campaign for a treaty and creation of a network of marine protected areas - areas free from harmful human activity - on at least a third of the world's oceans by 2030.
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[1] Governments meet at the United Nations from Monday, March 7th to Friday, March 18th to discuss the so-called Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Scientists and activists are calling for a historic deal to protect international waters: a global ocean treaty. If done right, it would provide the legal framework for the creation of highly or fully protected marine protected areas (or marine protected areas) on at least a third of the planet by 2030 (30×30) — something scientists say must be avoided at all costs with the worst impacts of climate change and protect endangered species. Over 100 governments and 5 million people worldwide have endorsed the 30×30 vision.
[2] The full report can be found here: Squid Spotlight: The unregulated squid fishery is headed for disaster
[3] The Argentine government identified 546 foreign vessels operating outside of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) during the 2020-21 fishing season. Such was the concentration of squid jiggers that lights aboard the ships at night made the border of Argentina's EEZ clearly visible from space.
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Photos: Greenpeace
