Giant Squid: to Regulate or to Plunder

PERU
Saturday, February 07, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Between March 2 and 6, Panama City will host the 14th meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), a decisive gathering for the future of transboundary high-seas fisheries and, in particular, for the giant squid or pota (Dosidicus gigas), the most abundant cephalopod on the planet. The SPRFMO, in force since 2012, was created with a clear mandate: to apply the precautionary approach to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the resources under its authority. However, its performance raises doubts. The jack mackerel precedent is illustrative. Despite its long history of exploitation and its primary destination being direct human consumption, Peru ended up with a marginal 2% quota, reflecting deficient state action and limited negotiating capacity. Panama represents an opportunity not to repeat that mistake.

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