Argentine shortfin squid

The south Patagonian stock of Argentine shortfin squid seems to be recovering from very low levels, but there is not enough data to indicate whether this stock is yet at a healthy size. There is no assessment of fishing pressure, and therefore we consider there to be concern.Route 2 scoring has been applied to this rating owing to the uncertainty of the data and the lack of a reference point for biomass. Argentine shortfin squid is considered to have high resilience, as it has a minimum population doubling time of less than 15 months.There are 4 sub-stocks of Argentine shortfin squid:Summer Spawning Stock (SSS)South Patagonian Stock (SPS)Bonaerense-North Patagonian Stock (BNPS)Spring Spawning Stock (SpSS)The first two stocks are considered to be the most important to the fishery. This rating is for the South Patagonian Stock.The south Patagonian stock is found in both Falkland and southern Argentine waters. There is no joint agreement on how to assess the stock. Assessments are carried out separately by Argentina's National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) and the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands has not provided an assessment since 2019. The most recent INIDEP report is from 2022, using data from 2021 and early 2022.Stock estimates from INIDEP are based on a survey from January-February 2022. Average density was 3.02 tonnes per nautical mile, similar to levels observed in 2019 (2.68 t/nm). This is well below the levels of good years, such as 2007 (16.78 t/nm) and 2014 (8.22 t/nm). Biomass was estimated at 143,878t with a high uncertainty (+/- 86,293t). This is because most sampling stations had extremely low catches, and a few stations had very high ones. This situation has previously been observed in years of low abundance for this stock, such as 2004. However, squid populations fluctuate significantly, and are very responsive to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, a low abundance does not necessarily indicate concern for the stock. No reference points, indicators, or proxies have been set by INIDEP to indicate what a healthy stock size would look like. We consider there to be concern for biomass because there is not enough information to determine the health of this stock.The Falkland Islands 2019 assessment estimated biomass at 148,023 t, the second highest since 2015 (253,660 t). However, scientists indicated that this stock had experienced very low biomass in 2016, and while it seemed to be recovering, it could still be at low levels. A fisheries report from 2022 notes a recovery in 2021, and then a decline to 2019 levels.Assessing fishing mortality of Argentine shortfin squid is difficult. Catches per unit of effort (CPUE) are available. However, squid stocks can be vary variable and are heavily influenced by their environment, so CPUEs will change based on where the squid have migrated to in response to oceanographic conditions. Likewise, catches vary depending on squid stock size and availability, so high catches are not necessarily indicative of high fishing pressure. In previous years, most catches of this species were from the SPS stock. In recent years (2020 and 2021), this has shifted to the SSS stock.An escapement target of 40% has been set by INIDEP, indicating that at least 40% of the squid stock should remain after the fishing season to allow for spawning. This requires a pre- and post-season stock survey. There does not appear to be data on escapement after 2019, when it was 49% in the Falkland Islands and 54% in southern Argentina, indicating that fishing pressure was within target levels. After the the 2021 fishing season, SPS escapement was not calculated by INIDEP due to the lack of a pre-season survey.On average, it is estimated that around 45% of annual catches of this species have been from the high seas over the last decade, although it is unclear which stocks this would include. The high seas fishery is poorly regulated, and there is very limited information on catch and effort. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing takes place here. INIDEP considers this to be a potential threat to the sustainability of this fishery. Total catch for 2021 was 530,013t, with an estimated 220,000t from the high seas beyond the Argentine and Falklands EEZs.As there is no reliable indicator of fishing pressure available, and given the potential risk of overfishing posed by the high seas fishery, we consider there to be concern for fishing pressure.

A number of management measures are in place for Argentine shortfin squid. However, there is no collaborative management between the main fishing nations, and no catch limits or management plans. There is a significant unregulated fishery from other nations occurring on the high seas. Therefore, management measures are not enough to ensure sustainable exploitation of this stock.The Argentine shortfin squid fishery is the second largest squid fishery in the world, although catches are very variable. It operates in Argentina, the Falkland Islands, and on the High Seas, and is accessed by distant water fishing fleets from Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and China.As it is a straddling stock, management should be joined up to ensure that exploitation levels are sustainable levels across all the fisheries. However, there is no joint management plan. From 1990-2005, the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission (SAFC) was in place. It involved Argentina, the UK, and Falkland Islands. It facilitated the exchange of fisheries data, joint research cruises, joint scientific analysis, and recommended co-ordinated conservation advice to respective governments. Argentina disengaged from the process in 2005 following a Falklands decision to grant fishing licences in its waters over a 25-year period, rather than by an annual renewal.In 2019, a fishery data collaboration was agreed between Argentina and the Falkland Islands, and a complete stock assessment of Argentine shortfin squid was conducted. However, the collaboration has not been maintained and is not expected to occur again in the near future. Recent stock data has been incomplete.In both Argentina and the Falkland Islands, there is a management objective of 40% escapement, indicating that at least 40% of the squid stock should remain after the fishing season to allow for spawning. This is considered to be a good target and is replicated in other squid fisheries. As part of this, surveys should be carried out before the fishing season to establish stock sizes, and catches reported weekly. The fisheries should be closed when escapement is reached. Escapement thresholds were exceeded from 2012-2016.Argentina has implemented closures based on this threshold, but only for the smaller component of the fishery North of 44 degrees, This does not include the bulk of the fishery, which occurs south of this and accounted for 85% of catches in 2021.Pre-season surveys have not been conducted in recent years for the main stocks, so there is no reliable data on which to base the sustainability of the fishery. The escapement threshold for the Summer Spawning Stock was breached in 2021/22.There is no plan for how the fishery should be conducted when the stock is at very low levels, e.g. closing the fishery for the year, or increasing the escapement target.In Argentina, other management measures include:Observers: In 2021, scientific observers were present on 5% of fishing trips to support scientific monitoring of the fishery.A closed season: the fishery operates during winter (February-August) and closes during spawning season. The southern fishery (south of 44 degrees S) is open from February to June, and the northern fishery is open from May to August. The seasons are sometimes started a month earlier if surveys indicate high abundance of some stocks. Some fishing is allowed on parts of the high seas from December-August.Fishing gear restrictions: squid can only be targeted by vessels equipped with jigging systems, or trawlers with a fishing permit for all species.Bycatch limits: bycatch can’t exceed 20% of the total catch by weight.Monitoring and control: All commercial fishing vessels must use Vessel Monitoring Systems, which track vessel positions using satellite data. The navy carries out control and surveillance, and compliance seems to be adequate. However, illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities in Argentine and surrounding waters by a foreign fleet have been regularly reported. Although some vessels caught in Argentine waters have been sanctioned, the current sanctions do not provide evidence of effective deterrence.In the Falklands, the fishery only takes place when squid migrates into Falkland waters, and so it can be a difficult fishery to control. Management measures include:Licenses: a limited number are available, to control the amount of fishing effort taking place. If no stock assessment is available, the number of licenses is reduced.Closed season: the fishery operates during autumn and winter (January-June).Observers: All fleets and fisheries use observers to collect data including catch, effort, and seabird and mammal interaction & mortality. Observers are sometimes placed on vessels operating on the high seas when possible. In 2020, coverage was just 1.1% in the jig fishery, and 8% in the trawl fishery.Monitoring and control: All vessels must have a satellite Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Compliance of the fleet is considered to be adequate. To fight IUU fishing, Falklands waters are patrolled by the Falkland Islands Government aircraft and an armed fishery protection vessel.On average, it is estimated that around 45% of annual catches of this species have been from the high seas (beyond the Argentine and Falklands EEZs) over the last decade. The high seas fishery is poorly regulated, and there is very limited information on catch and effort. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing takes place here. INIDEP considers this to be a potential threat to the sustainability of this fishery. In 2021, of the total catch of 530,013t, an estimated 220,000t was from the high seas.Two Fishery Improvement Projects have been initiated for parts of this fishery, one in Argentine waters and one in the Falkland Islands. They aim to get the fishery to a point where it could obtain MSC certification. The scoping documents for both highlight that the current lack of harvest control rules and concerns about the stock in Argentina would prevent certification.

Jigging is a low impact fishing method with no habitat impacts and low levels of bycatch. However, better monitoring is needed to ensure impacts are fully understood.Over 90% of Argentine shortfin squid is caught by jigging, and most of the rest by by trawling. This does not include estimates for the IUU fleet, which operates outside of Argentine and Falklands waters.Jigs consists of two or more crowns of steel hooks mounted on a plastic cylinder. Between 20 and 30 jigs are attached to a fishing line, about 1 metre apart. The lines are set at night and the vessels shine lights onto and under the water to attract the squid. No bait or lures are used on the hooks.Jigs are set near the surface (0-50m deep), so there is no impact on the seabed. However, there is no data about the loss of gear and subsequent impacts from ghost fishing.It is a highly selective fishery. Jigs are placed at depths where squid are expected to be found, they are not baited, and their design is unlikely to catch non-cephalopod species. There may be bycatch of other squids, but this is thought to be at low levels.However, there may be some impacts on birds and marine mammals. Predators can be attracted by squid while it is on the jigs or by offal thrown overboard when squid is processed. There is not enough information on this to fully understand the impacts. Reported observer coverage on Argentine and Falkland fleets is only 5%, which is too low for accurate data.Seabirds may be temporarily blinded by the lights and collide with boats or fishing gear. There are some reports of bird entanglements in fishing gear. Studies in the Falkland Islands indicate that this has mostly included black-browed albatross, as well as giant petrels and wandering albatross. There are also historical reports of deliberate targeting of seabirds for food by jigging vessels, but this is an effect of socio-economic circumstances and is not considered in this rating. Black-browed albatross populations are increasing, and therefore do not appear to be affected by interactions.There is also some recorded entanglement of southern elephant seal, but the species is not believed to be substantially impacted by this fishery.It is a criminal offence to capture, harm or kill seabirds or marine mammals in the Falkland Islands. Argentina has National Plans of Action for the reduction of interactions with seabirds, marine mammals and turtles. There does not appear to be recent data on mortalities. Overall, impacts on endangered, threatened or protected species are thought to be low but are not well documented enough.The role of Argentine shortfin squid in the ecology of the Patagonian Shelf is not fully understood. The fishery has the potential to impact on populations of species that depend on it for prey, including large fish, seabirds and marine mammals.

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