Photo: IMARPE/FIS

IMARPE Debunks Single Jumbo Squid Population Theory in the South Pacific

PERU
Thursday, July 10, 2025, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Peru's Marine Institute (IMARPE) has refuted recent statements suggesting a single jumbo squid population unit in the South Pacific, asserting that no conclusive scientific evidence supports this claim and warning of the risks of unified management.

LIMA – Peru's Marine Institute (IMARPE), the specialized technical body of the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), has issued a statement clarifying its official position on the population structure of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) in the South Pacific. This follows statements attributed to Dr. Ricardo Oliveros, current president of the Scientific Committee of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), who suggested that "everything seems to point" to a single large population unit.

IMARPE emphasizes that this assertion does not reflect SPRFMO's official position and that Dr. Oliveros made the statement during an international symposium in China, to which IMARPE—as the Peruvian state's scientific entity responsible for marine resource research, including jumbo squid—was not officially invited.

IMARPE's Scientific Evidence Contradicts Single Population Theory

Studies conducted by IMARPE, which include morphometric, reproductive, fisheries, and oceanographic evidence, support the existence of three spatially differentiated phenotypic groups of jumbo squid in the Southeast Pacific. At the genetic level, there are indications of a complex population genetic structure, with differences linked to their spatial distribution in jurisdictional waters. IMARPE stresses that these aspects are crucial and must be considered for sustainable management of the resource.

Click on the image to enlarge. Photo: courtesy of Global Fishing Watch

Risks of Unified Management and Impact on Peru

IMARPE warns that unifying the management of jumbo squid as if it were a single population unit carries significant risks. A singular approach could favor overfishing on the high seas without providing sufficient protection for vital coastal and high-seas spawning and recruitment zones. This would jeopardize not only the resource's sustainability but also the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on this activity. In Peru's case, the artisanal jumbo squid fishery generates over 57,000 direct jobs and holds high social and economic value for coastal communities.

In this context, IMARPE reiterates its full readiness to continue scientifically supporting the results of its research before SPRFMO and any competent international forum, based on rigorously obtained data. It also urges that all statements related to the jumbo squid resource be consistent with solid scientific evidence to ensure a robust and informed defense of national fishing interests.

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