Global Squid

With rising concerns about IUU fishing and human rights issues affecting global squid sourcing, some members of the GS SR formed the Squid IUU Prevention Group in July 2021. The group is a pre-competitive industry alliance of concerned companies that, for the first time, have made public commitments to adjust their purchasing policies to avoid IUU fishing products in their supply.

To continue advancing toward improved sustainability of squid fisheries over the next three years, SR participants will focus on the following strategic priorities:

• Strengthening Global Squid SR governance and expanding participation: SR participants will establish stricter participation criteria, to ensure the commitment of partner companies, as well as work on expanding participation to new companies and enhancing governance of the SR. SFP will host the SR secretariat, support the development and implementation of annual workplans, and help the group reach out to new participants.
• Improving transparency and traceability in squid supply chains: Global squid supply chains are highly complex. With few exceptions, squid is harvested in fishing areas with weak regulations and lack of enforcement. Full traceability of a product, from the final buyer back to the fishing vessel, is vital to eliminate the risks surrounding lack of product origin information. This traceability requires a level of transparency by both management authorities and companies. The SR will focus on improving and publicizing participating companies’ purchasing policies, supporting the development of publicly available sustainability assessments of priority fisheries via FishSource, identifying product traceability schemes, and adopting due diligence processes to reduce risks associated with product mixing and developing IUU risk assessments in their supply chains. SR participants will also work to mobilize management authorities to improve or strengthen the implementation of import control schemes.
• Promoting science-based fisheries management to ensure environmentally sustainable fisheries: Although squids are important contributors to healthy marine ecosystems, little is known about the biology and abundance of the main squid stocks. As a result, some of the main commercial species are being fished at unsustainable levels. The SR will advocate with regulators to improve the science base and management frameworks at both national and regional levels by encouraging the development of robust stock assessments in priority fisheries, expressing support for the ratification of international agreements that address identified weaknesses in science and management, promoting the adoption of co-management principles in artisanal squid fisheries within coastal country EEZs, and supporting the initiation and adequate progress of fishery improvement projects (FIPs).
• Addressing human rights abuses in squid fisheries to ensure socially responsible fisheries. Recent evidence has highlighted rampant IUU fishing by distant water fleets (DWFs) in squid fisheries. In addition to risks of overfishing and threats to the health of marine ecosystems, this increased fishing effort by highly subsidized DWFs exacerbates issues of social justice. DWF catches compete – both in the water and in the market – with the catches of non-subsidized and often institutionally marginalized artisanal fleets, for whom squid is their main source of livelihood, further increasing the pressure on this resource. These artisanal fleets often operate in the informal economy and are subject to corruption and abuse from authorities, criminal groups, informal moneylenders, and middlemen. In addition, human rights abuses in squid fisheries – including modern slavery, bonded labor, human trafficking, child labor, unfair remuneration, indecent working conditions, and lack of gender equality – have become an increasing concern for industry in the last few years. Media reports have exposed exploitative labor practices and human rights abuses, particularly on fishing vessels operating in the high seas. SR participants will identify appropriate ways to ensure that human rights abuses do not occur in their supply chains and adopt these methods (e.g., third party audits) as part of their purchasing procedures. Furthermore, SR participants will work on a clear and tangible corporate social responsibility policy that will be posted on their corporate websites, detailing how this policy is responding to the nature and needs of their specific supply chain(s), and how it will be actioned in practical terms.

Public Statement on Squid IUU Issues in Global Supply Chains

SR Participation Requirements

• Any company interested in participating in the GS SR must apply via email to the current SFP GS SR lead.
• Participants are required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Current participants are in the process of signing the MoU, and new participants will be required to sign upon joining.
• Companies will publicly endorse and recognize the Public Statement on Squid IUU Issues in Global Supply Chains, and will participate in activities and initiatives to address the challenges identified.
• Participants are encouraged to attend regular meetings, and are required to collaborate with SFP and experts whenever needed.
• Each company is expected to make an initial contribution of USD 3,000.

Library of IUU Resources

This revised SR strategy is based on a thorough review of evidence about IUU fishing, published over the last several years. For original sources and more information on IUU fishing, please visit our IUU Squid Fishing Resource Library.