The production of squid in Korea’s coastal waters has hit a record low. According to statistics released by Statistics Korea(KOSTAT) on April 20, the domestic squid catch decreased by 42% compared to the previous year, marking the lowest level ever recorded. Compared to 2002, the production has dropped to about one-sixteenth. The drastic decline is attributed mainly to climate change—leading to higher sea temperatures—and overfishing. As a result of declining coastal squid stocks, dependence on squid sourced from distant waters is increasing. In Korea, the catch of oceanic squid has risen annually to compensate for the shortage in coastal production. However, squid resources are facing depletion risks globally as well, due to inadequate resource management.
Squid plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem, serving as prey for various marine animals such as swordfish, sharks, tuna, marine mammals, and seabirds, while also being commercially valuable. Despite this, squid fisheries are often considered poorly managed, and concerns over the sustainability of squid resources are growing worldwide. Nevertheless, scientific research and management plans remain insufficient. Global cephalopod catches, including squid, have increased nearly tenfold—from about 500,000 tons in 1950 to approximately 4.85 million tons in 2014—and accounted for about 11% of global seafood catch in 2022. Notably, between 2017 and 2020, squid fishing effort surged by 68%.
With both domestic and international squid consumption steadily rising, the need for effective squid resource management and stronger fishing regulations is becoming more urgent. In particular, regional fisheries organizations in the Pacific are being urged to designate squid as a managed species and to swiftly implement conservation measures based on scientific analysis.
Currently, a large portion of the world’s squid fishing takes place in unregulated high seas, with China—one of the major fishing nations—dominating in terms of vessel count and fishing hours. While squid is fished globally, the Pacific Ocean is the only region where the catch is managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) and the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) have only recently begun discussions on scientific research and conservation measures. Other key squid fishing areas include the high seas of FAO Area 41 and the Falkland Islands near Argentina. These regions, actively fished by countries including Korea, currently lack dedicated RFMOs. While some management exists under the UN General Assembly resolutions regarding bottom fisheries in the high seas, there is growing demand for the establishment of a dedicated RFMO to oversee both the Falklands and FAO Area 41.
To address this issue, it is essential to establish a global governance framework for squid resource management. This would allow countries to coordinate squid research and surveys more systematically. It is also crucial to collect scientific data on squid populations, prevent overfishing and illegal fishing, and establish a management system to maintain sustainable fishing levels. As one of the major squid fishing nations along with China, Japan, and Taiwan, Korea has moved away from its previous status as a potential IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing country. It now strives to comply with RFMO regulations and develop sustainable fishing practices. Given the national and international importance of squid, the Korean fishing industry must strengthen its efforts toward sustainable fisheries, while the government should actively participate in scientific research and management system development at the regional fisheries organization level.