Southwest Atlantic Squid Fishery Faces Imminent Collapse amidst Abuses, Report Finds
A new report from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) reveals widespread human rights abuses and unsustainable practices within the Southwest Atlantic squid fishery, raising alarms about the potential for a rapid ecosystem collapse. The examination details violence, intimidation, excessive working hours, and wage deductions experienced by Indonesian and Filipino crew members aboard Chinese squid vessels. nearly two-thirds of these vessels have been linked to deaths or physical assaults.
Beyond human rights concerns, the report documents illegal and cruel targeting of vulnerable wildlife, including shark finning and the purposeful killing of marine mammals like South American fur seals.
The lack of effective oversight raises fears that seafood products linked to these abuses are entering major markets, including the EU, North America, and the UK. Experts warn the unregulated fishing pressure could trigger a swift collapse of the squid population.
“A collapse could happen extremely rapidly, triggering cascading impacts on marine life,” stated EJF’s representative, Trent. ”Governments must act now to bring regulation, transparency, and accountability to this lawless fishery.”
The EJF is urging international collaboration to establish science-based catch limits and monitoring for squid in the Southwest Atlantic. Key recommendations include ending forced labor, ensuring full traceability of seafood supply chains, strengthening port controls, and banning imports connected to illegal or abusive fishing.
“Squid are vital to ocean health and to the people who depend on the sea for food and livelihoods,” Trent continued. “governments must work together to protect them, or risk a catastrophe that will reverberate far beyond these waters.”
The EJF also advocates for governments to endorse and implement the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a framework of actions designed to promote legal, ethical, and sustainable fisheries management.
The full report, Luminous Lights, Dim prospects: The Southwest Atlantic Squid, is available to read here.
