Photo: Pesca Sustentable

Chile Boosts Giant Squid Sustainability with Public-Private Alliance

CHILE
Monday, June 09, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Fishermen, producers, and authorities unite in an unprecedented working group to secure the future of Chile's jumbo squid, a key resource for artisanal fisheries and international markets, aiming for certification and global recognition of its sustainability.

SANTIAGO – In an effort to ensure the long-term viability of one of its most important fisheries, Chile has officially launched a collaborative working space focused on the knowledge, management, and sustainability of the jumbo squid, scientifically known as giant squid (Dosidicus gigas). The first meeting of the "Giant Squid Sustainability Group" brought together key stakeholders from the Chilean fishing sector, including fishermen, producers, and representatives from both public and private spheres.

This group, as reported by Constanza Cárdenas Ulloa of the Sustainable Fisheries NGO, aims to advance towards the sustainable management of this species, which is of vital importance for Chilean artisanal fishing. The giant squid not only inhabits the Chilean coast but also the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, and its meat is highly demanded abroad, where it is mainly sold refrigerated or frozen in various presentations.

Gonzalo Araya, Market Linkages Director at the Pesca Sustentable NGO, opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of this initiative: "Here we are going to define concrete actions to advance the sustainability of the jumbo squid, supporting both the efforts of the State and those of the Southeast Pacific." Participants agreed on the need to formalize this space as a public-private dialogue and collaboration table, with the objective of generating scientific, technical, and commercial information that promotes the sustainable development of the fishery.

Sector Voices: From the Sea to the International Market

The initiative was enthusiastically received by the various sector players. Miguel Ángel Hernández, from the New Dawn Artisanal Fishermen's Federation, valued the opportunity this group offers to directly influence the future of the resource. "As a Federation, we are interested in continuing to participate to contribute knowledge that allows us to understand the state of the resource. This space is important for us to advance in the knowledge and commercialization of this product," Hernández affirmed.

From the business sector, Ernesto Alegría, General Manager of ISAM Chile, emphasized the urgency of aligning with international standards: "For us, this instance has been very positive for the functioning of a sustainable fishery, which markets are demanding. So we hope that the best comes out of the next meetings and, in a few years, hopefully, we will have a certified fishery."

The relevance of transparency for accessing demanding markets was underlined by Sindy Parraguez, legal and commercial representative for Matsuoka Co., Ltd. in Chile and South America, with over a decade of experience exporting seafood to Japan. "The more information we can provide to the markets, the more certainty they will have in making purchasing decisions. That's why this instance is very important: it provides us with stability in the raw material for our market," Parraguez highlighted.

Towards Global Recognition and Comprehensive Sustainability

The formation of the Giant Squid Sustainability Group represents a tangible step in Chile's efforts to reconcile fishing production with conservation and value creation. This approach is crucial for a fishery of such magnitude for the country.

Gonzalo Araya outlined the group's future work, anticipating that "we will address issues with transparency, identify existing gaps in the fishery —including commercial information gaps that many producers are still unaware of— and work together with the entire chain so that the jumbo squid fishery is recognized, both nationally and internationally, as a sustainable artisanal fishery with great future potential." This ambitious vision seeks to position Chilean giant squid as a benchmark for sustainability in the global fishing sector.

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