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Japan’s Squid Resources in Crisis: Fishing Quota Reduced by 76%

JAPAN
Tuesday, March 04, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

The Japanese Fisheries Policy Committee Panel Meeting recently announced a significant decision regarding Japan's Flying Squid (Pacific Flying Squid) fishery.

The 2025 fishing quota will be cut by 76%, bringing it to a record low of 19,200 tons. This decision, confirmed on February 13, reflects the continued decline in Japanese flying squid stocks. Industry representatives and experts attending the meeting unanimously supported the measure.

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Historically, Japan’s annual squid landings exceeded 300,000 tons in 2000. However, since 2018, landings have sharply declined to below 50,000 tons, signaling a severe resource depletion. The drastic quota reduction represents a decisive step by the Japanese government to protect this endangered fishery.

New Quota Allocations

Under the new allocation, the ministerially approved inshore trawling fishery will receive 2,600 tons, while medium to large purse seine vessels will be allotted 600 tons. The large squid jigging sector will be allocated 2,300 tons, and the small squid jigging sector will receive 2,800 tons.

Japan’s Squid Stock Management

Japan manages two distinct stocks of Japanese flying squid:

• Autumn-spawning stock: Originates from the western Sea of Japan and the northern East China Sea.

• Winter-spawning stock: Originates from the East China Sea.

The autumn-spawning stock was lightly fished in the 1980s but increased significantly in the 1990s, peaking at 315,000 tons. However, after reaching their highest level in 2005-2006, combined catches from Japan, South Korea, and China have steadily declined. By 2023, total landings had fallen to 28,000 tons, including 8,000 tons caught by China.

Conversely, winter-spawning stock catches remained low through the 1980s but rebounded in the late 1980s, reaching a peak of 400,000 tons in 1996. Although catches remained relatively stable for years, they began to decline sharply in 2016. By 2023, total landings of winter-spawning squid had dropped to just 14,000 tons, with Japan catching 12,000 tons, South Korea 1,000 tons, Russia 379 tons, and China reporting no catches.

Declining Landings and Rising Prices

Japan’s total landings of Japanese flying squid in 2024 reached 13,000 tons, slightly above 2023’s 12,000 tons, yet still historically low. Despite relatively stable fishing conditions along the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture and the Sea of Japan, landings of frozen squid have declined sharply.

As national catches continue to decrease, squid prices have surged. In December 2024, the price reached a record high of 2,033 yen (approximately USD 13.73) per kilogram.

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