Several leading US squid producers and suppliers have joined with their European, Canadian and Australian counterparts to create a new international task force to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in their supply chains. global.

Working with technical support from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, the new INN working group includes Aqua Star in Seattle, Washington; Beaver Street Fisheries, Jacksonville, Florida; Crocker & Winsor Seafoods, Needham, Massachusetts; Lund’s Fisheries, Cape May, NJ; Netuno, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Panapesca, Pembroke, Massachusetts; Calamari from the Coast of the Sun, Oxnard, California; and the Town Dock in Narragansett, RI

The IUU Squid Prevention Working Group was formed by members of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (Global Squid SR) Squid Supply Chain Roundtable, which brings together squid producers and suppliers to work together in a pre-competitive environment to stimulate efforts to improve squid fishing practices. , management and politics.

“As importers and distributors of processed squid products, the members of the working group are united in their desire to clearly ban IUU squid products and human and labor rights violations in their chains. ‘supply,’ according to a statement from the partnership, an international maritime organization. conservation group founded in 2006.

“With the latest news regarding the increased risks associated with IUU fishing, as well as human rights violations and labor abuses in global squid production, supply chains must act urgently to tackle and eradicate these problems, ”said Carmen Gonzalez-Valles, head of the partnership. director of market engagement for Europe. “We expect this industry-led task force to lay the groundwork for impactful collective action against human rights violations and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in fishing, processing and the worldwide distribution of squid. “

Other companies joining the effort are Bidfood from Australia, Sea Farms Ltd. from the United Kingdom, Export Packers in Canada and the Spanish companies Cabomar, Congalsa, Grupo Alfrio and Worldwide Fishing Company-WOFCO.

Partners are working to tackle IUU squid fishing through their global squid supply chains. In the coming months, US companies will work with their international peers, and with the support of independent technical experts, to develop a common work plan to combat IUU fishing and human rights violations by eliminating their supply chains identified as high risk raw materials and communicate with customers and suppliers on their commitment to tackle illegal squid fishing around the world.

While participants’ home countries already have programs in place to reduce IUU fishing, other parts of the world need additional education and support.

“I am proud to work with such an esteemed group of companies under the leadership of SFP,” said Robert Hallion, President of Crocker & Winsor Seafoods. “Our coalition will work with the entire supply chain to educate and support IUU-free fishing. “

As part of the Global Squid SR, the working group closely aligned with the work done by the Committee for the Sustainable Management of the South Pacific Giant Flying Squid (CALAMASUR) to advocate for conservation management measures for the giant flying squid in regional fisheries of the South Pacific. Management organization and communicated with SPRFMO delegates to promote the sustainable harvest of this species in the region.

Additional plans in other squid fisheries are in the works, and the working group will invite other squid producers and suppliers around the world to join the effort this year.