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.

There are no appropriate management measures in place for Argentine shortfin squid caught in international waters. Unregulated fishing is of significant concern. This fishery is responsible for around half of the catches of this species, and threatens the sustainability of the 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 in international waters (aka High Seas), and is accessed by distant water fishing fleets including Europe Union, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and China. On average, it is estimated that around 45% of annual catches of this species have been from the high seas over the last decade.Argentina's fisheries research institute, INIDEP, considers the high seas fishery to be a potential threat to the sustainability of Argentine shortfin squid. INIDEP estimates that in 2021, of a total Argentine shortfin squid catch of 530,013t, an estimated 220,000t was from the high seas.There is no management organisation responsible for controlling or monitoring Argentine shortfin squid fishing outside of national waters. The high seas fishery is poorly regulated, and there is very limited information on catch and effort. China introduced some measures for its distant water fleets in 2020 to address concerns, but illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing continues. There are also incidences of Chinese, Spanish and South Korean vessels turning off safety tracking systems (AIS). Any fishing activity by vessels with AIS switched off cannot be tracked, and may have been taking place illegally within Argentine waters. Between 2018 and 2021, these vessels were untraceable for a combined 600,000 hours.

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