The 12th Annual SPRFMO Meeting is taking place at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center in Providencia, Santiago, Chile

Ecuador leads initiatives for sustainable management of the giant squid in the South Pacific

In a key meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) in Santiago, Chile, 17 member states, including fishing powers such as the United States, Russia, China and Latin American countries such as Peru, Chile and Ecuador, are gathered to make crucial decisions on the sustainable management of jack mackerel and giant squid.

These resources are fundamental to the subsistence of more than one hundred thousand families, mainly dedicated to artisanal fishing.

The giant squid, a strategic resource for thousands of artisanal fishermen in Chile and Peru, as well as for the vast Chinese industrial fleet, has experienced joint catches exceeding one million tons in recent years. However, it is surprising that none of these fishing nations have submitted significant proposals for the conservation and management of this valuable resource.

In contrast, Ecuador, whose share of global giant squid catches is less than 1%, stands out as the only country that has taken the lead in formulating strategies for the recovery of this population, which faces a worrying decline.

Ecuador's proposals for the Improvement of the Giant Squid Fishery:

• Improvement in data collection: proposes to establish procedures that promote collaboration between countries for the sharing of scientific data that feed the development of an assessment of the regional stock of giant squid, which will end up ensuring science-based management for this important fishing stock.
• Establishment of a Buffer Zone: this proposal seeks to create a special protection area of a total of 10 nautical miles, which will be located in international waters of the South Pacific adjacent to the jurisdictional waters of Ecuador (including Galapagos), Chile and Peru.In this way, the monitoring, control and surveillance capacity in this critical zone for the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will be strengthened.
• Space-time ban: the proposal seeks a temporary closure of a key fishing area for the reproduction of the giant squid, in order to avoid the predation of breeders, ensure their spawning to maintain sufficient population sizes to sustain fishing productivity.
• Improvement of the conservation and management measure that regulates the satellite monitoring system: the amendment of the measure that regulates the vessel monitoring system seeks to strengthen fisheries surveillance and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

With these initiatives, Ecuador not only reaffirms its commitment to the sustainability of its marine resources, but also to regional cooperation and knowledge sharing. These actions demonstrate the country's proactive vision in the responsible management of the giant squid, a fundamental resource for its economy and food security.

12th SPRFMO (OROP-PS) Conference in Chile

Ecuador, which is among the top 5 world exporters in fishing and aquaculture, lays the foundations to consolidate in the near future a giant squid fishing fleet, a long-awaited goal for the country. This development could generate at least ten thousand jobs and boost an industry with the potential to export squid to Europe and Asia, contributing significantly to the food security of Ecuadorians.

The SPRFMO meeting, which will extend until February 21, 2025, is a crucial scenario to achieve consensus that will protect the giant squid from overfishing. Member countries are expected to demonstrate maturity and commitment to the sustainable management of hydrobiological resources, responding to the demands of the international community and guaranteeing the viability of this fishery for future generations.

In line with the Second External Audit of the SPRFMO

The Second Review Panel of the SPRFMO performance has recognized the important progress made by the organization since its creation, highlighting the actions in the restoration of the jack mackerel stock and the need to implement more rigorous strategies for the management of other fisheries, including the giant squid.

The review recommends focusing efforts on data collection and collaboration among member States, which fully coincides with the proposals presented by Ecuador. These actions are essential to ensure the sustainable future of the giant squid fishery and achieve the collective conservation and management objectives.

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