CONXEMAR 2026 panel highlights urgent need to connect science, international fisheries management and growing market demands for sustainable squid
Vigo, Spain – Representatives from fishing fleets, regional advisory councils and processing industries gathered at CONXEMAR 2026 this week to highlight opportunities for stronger coordination and engagement among industry players to ensure the long-term sustainability of squid resources. During a panel at the international trade fair, participants highlighted the need for stronger coordination across international waters, enhanced scientific cooperation and compliance with new destination-market regulations – and emphasized the important role that industry can, and must, play in advancing these efforts.
Global squid fisheries are vital resources for international markets and processing industries, particularly in Europe. However, they face challenges related to ocean governance; a lack of stock assessments; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and uncontrolled fishing effort in areas adjacent to Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Because all actors across the squid value chain are interconnected, progress in governance, science, traceability and market regulations are all critical to ensuring sustainable squid production and trade.
In recent months, the international debate, focused on finding solutions and space for collaboration, has reached important milestones, with implications for the international commercialization of squid products derived from these fisheries. However, at the recent South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) scientific meeting, member states stopped short of finalizing a complete stock-assessment framework or hard catch limits for the jumbo flying squid fishery.
In response, Alfonso Miranda, president of CALAMASUR, said “In the South Pacific, advancing the scientific foundation for jumbo flying squid management remains a priority. While SPRFMO has worked to improve stock evaluation models, closing the data gap requires unified international commitment. Coastal states, flag states and market states must work side by side to ensure management decisions keep pace with fishing activity and market expectations.”
Focus on European industry engagement in southern squid fisheries
To help ensure industry input, Conxemar (the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importers, Exporters and Manufacturers of Fish and Aquaculture Products) has joined the SPRFMO as an observer. Luis Garcia, sustainability manager at Conxemar, emphasized that markets must be part of the conversation and that strengthening science based management is essential for the future sustainability of the jumbo flying squid and trade. Without a fleet in the South Pacific, the commodity is key for the European and Spanish processing sector; thus Europe must take action in support of strong conservation measures.
Alexandre Rodriguez, executive secretary and general director of the Long Distance Advisory Council echoed this sentiment, noting that this “global fishery has grown immensely, but its governance framework has failed to keep pace. The Long Distance Advisory Council calls for a level playing field for all products entering the EU market, backed by risk-based import controls, stronger enforcement of existing rules—such as CATCH / IT catch tools—and full transparency throughout the entire value chain.”
Robust science-based management is equally critical for the southern Atlantic Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) squid fishery. A recent scientific workshop in Vigo highlighted the role of the Spanish fleet and international partners in collecting data and sharing historical series as indispensable for building a trustworthy regional stock assessment. Representatives attending the workshop agreed to create a common database to help define a regional stock assessment.
A call to action
Concluding the Conxemar 2026 panel, David Comesaña, chair of SFP’s Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable and purchasing director at Congalsa Corporation, called for individual and collective industry action: “Seafood companies invest in and implement tools to ensure legality, but industry action alone is not enough. Administrations must play their essential role in supporting monitoring, control, and compliance through robust import controls, alongside a shared commitment to scientific cooperation and transparency across every step of the supply chain.” His words reflected the content of the Public Statement on Science-based Management, recently signed by participants of the Global Squid SR.
Coming out of these international events, and looking forward to upcoming meetings and opportunities for progress, the panel participants proposed three key priorities for the squid sector over the next 1-2 years:
- Strengthening regional fisheries management by accelerating data sharing and developing scientific assessment models through SPRFMO and in FAO Area 41
- Expanding traceability and control by implementing standardized digital documentation and leveraging Port State Measures (PSMA) to combat IUU fishing
- Enhancing pre-competitive collaboration by promoting ongoing dialogue between producing fleets, coastal states and importing markets to align sustainability standards.
Carmen González-Vallés, SFP Supply Chain Roundtables director, noted “The panel at Conxemar, and other recent progress in the global squid sector, has highlighted the common willingness among industry actors to cooperate on ensuring the long-term sustainability of squid resources. I hope that these discussions can continue in the future to foster robust collaboration between stakeholders.”
