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Squid, Market

(California, Purse Seine)

Rating:
Squid grow quickly and reproduce at a young age, making them highly resilient to fishing pressure. However, insufficient population data as well as concerns about bycatch and habitat impacts make California market squid a "Good Alternative."

Market Names:
Calamari, Opalescent Squid

Summary:
Squid play an important role in marine food webs as predator and prey, and are an important source of food for marine mammals. It is also becoming a staple on many restaurant menus, where it's called calamari.

Squid grow quickly and reproduce at a young age, but their survival depends on ocean temperature and prey availability. This means squid abundance varies widely, or may be unknown in many areas.

There's a large squid fishery in the U.S., but most of that catch is exported. (Ironically, most of the squid consumed in the U.S. is imported.) Market squid, California's most valuable fishery, is caught with purse seines. Normally this method causes limited habitat damage, but when used in the market squid fishery, purse seines often contact and damage the seafloor. Also, there are bycatch issues, including the squids' own egg cases as they spawn.

Concerns about bycatch, habitat damage and a lack of clear data on population size make market squid from California a "Good Alternative."

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