OUR STORY
Prior to 1982, there was a large Japanese fishery for Magister squid in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska that harvested thousands of tons annually. Since then, there has been no commercial fishery for squid… possibly because of the abundance of other more lucrative fisheries at the time. The majority of Alaska fisheries are now in decline, and some have been temporarily closed due to low abundances. All indicators are pointing to impacts of climate change. While warmer waters, ocean acidification, and high CO2 in our waters are probable culprits, this is an environment that squid have evolved to thrive in. A new fishery would help Alaska fishermen become more resilient to climate change and potentially provide a means to bring our squid populations back into balance with our fragile ecosystem.
ABOUT US
Richard Yamada, a Southeast Alaska sportfishing lodge owner for over 40 years and Commissioner on the International Pacific Halibut Commission, has set out on a mission to establish Alaska’s first commercial squid fishery. Five years ago, a friend of Richard, emailed some pictures of squid they were catching in Petersburg. In early spring they would go out at night and jig for squid which they’d use for halibut bait during the summer. So, one night he tried jigging for squid in his area and was surprised how many they caught, over 100 in a couple hours using sportfishing poles with single squid jig lures. Over the following years, no matter where they fished for squid in a 25 mile by 2-mile channel called Southern Lynn Canal, they were successful in catching a good number of squid. This led Richard to believe there must be a huge number of squid in this area. Word got out that he was catching squid that surprised local area fisheries biologists and managers. Since there is no commercial squid fishery in Alaska, little research if any has been done on the Magister Squid species, their life history, abundance, and more importantly what role they play in the delicate fishery ecosystem. It wasn’t long before Richard met a local area salmon biologist who brought forward a hypothesis that squid maybe be the cause of declining at-sea survival of juvenile salmon on their journey out to sea. A new squid fishery could provide a means to manage this potential predator and support local fishermen with another species to help supplement their dwindling fishery portfolios.
About Our Logo
The title “magister” was historically given to Medieval professors. Our logo draws inspiration from the ornate design elements of that era to infuse it with a timeless and classical ambiance. Additionally, the concept incorporates three hearts, highlighting the trio of hearts that squids possess. These hearts are formed by arms adorned with hooks, serving as a subtle nod to the Magister Squid's nickname, the 'Armhook squid. These hearts are enclosed within a shield to symbolize Magister’s commitment to protect the environment
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Squid is a short-lived species. Initial research in our area of Southeast Alaska finds Magister Squid to only live for approximately one year. A recent aging study has suggested there are two spawning events, one in the winter and another in the summer. This is why we find a variety of squid sizes at any given time of harvest. Because of this short lifespan, it is difficult to use traditional stock assessment methods that use generational information to determine sustainable levels of harvest. For this reason, fishery dependent data (catch per unit effort) from the commercial fishery has been used as a basis to determine stock abundance in almost all squid fisheries. Establishing a TAC (Total Allowable Catch) can be made each year with little risk of overharvesting as squid reproduces often and achieves maturity quickly.
We also hope to do conduct pioneer research on a new stock assessment model using squid egg escapement to determine stock abundance. Funding for this project is hoped to accompany the opening of this new squid fishery in Alaska.
FY 23 Salton Kennedy NOAA Grant Award
Developing a Global Market for Alaska's Magister Squid
Goal: To develop a global market for Alaska’s Magister Squid
There are many challenges when opening a new fishery, none of which is the dilemma of whether you develop harvesting technologies first then find a market or vice versa. This project aims at finding a market for the Magister Squid first. Through extensive market and scientific research, our team is working towards answering this fundamental question: will a Magister Squid fishery in Alaska be sustainable and if so, is there a market for these products?
Objectives:
Since Magister Squid has never been harvested and sold in the U.S. before, it will need to be branded to differentiate it from other squid species in the current market. The project would demonstrate that magister squid can compete with other high-valued squid species in taste, texture, and use in the seafood industry and is sustainably caught in U.S. waters. To help position magister squid in the marketplace and discover the costs of bringing this new species to market, a market analysis will be conducted. It is envisioned that this product would gain the attention of consumers who already have a familiarity with high-quality, premium squid. For this reason, magister squid will be prepared by well-known national and international chefs to ultimately endorse this species as a premium product. Finally, the local fishing community will be made aware of the potential opening of a new fishery and the economic benefits it could bring to the community. To engage local commercial fishermen to the potential of a new fishery, a squid jigging machine, that has been used effectively in other international squid fisheries, will be demonstrated, and made available for trial use by commercial fishermen. A season-long squid derby will be conducted to help engage the public with this project and its goals. Fishers both recreational and commercial will be asked to provide squid samples for research and market testing.