Squid producers and suppliers from the US are teaming up with European, Canadian and Australian companies to create a working group to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
The Squid IUU Prevention Working Group was formed by members of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership’s Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (Global Squid SR), which brings together squid producers and suppliers to help improve squid fisheries practices, management and policy.
“Given the latest news about the increase in risks associated with IUU fishing, as well as human rights violations and labour abuses in global squid production, supply chains need to act urgently to tackle and eradicate these problems,” said Carmen Gonzalez-Valles, SFP’s markets engagement director for Europe.
Over the next few months, the US companies will work with their international peers, and with the support of independent experts, to develop a joint plan to tackle these issues by promoting their work to customers and supplies and by eliminating raw material identified as high risk from supply chains.
As part of the Global Squid SR, the working group has aligned with the Committee for the Sustainable Management of the South Pacific Jumbo Flying Squid to advocate for conservation management of the species at the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization.
Additional plans in other squid fisheries are being developed, and the working group will invite other squid producers and suppliers worldwide to join in the effort this year.
