Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas live in the Pacific Ocean, historically from Chile to Mexico. They are the largest squid in the family Ommastrephidae: they can grow up to six feet long (including tentacles) in less than two years. And each female can produce over 30 million eggs!
In the past decade, Humboldt squid have been spotted and caught further and further north. They now are found not only in the Pacific Ocean from Chile to Mexico, but seasonally are also found off California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and even Alaska. This incredible expansion of their range could be facilitated by human activities (including anthropogenic climate change) and has the potential to greatly impact ecosystems and fisheries. Humboldt squid can be considered “invasive species” because of their role in new ecosystems, despite the fact that they were not directly introduced by humans (which is the traditional definition of invasive species).
Humboldt squid support a huge fishery: in 2007 it was the 14th largest one in the world, measured by tons according to FAO*. That makes them the second largest invertebrate fishery in the world (recently demoted from being the first in 2006). Despite being so intensely fished, little is known about their biology or behavior. Their recent invasion to California is an incredible opportunity to understand these squid and their ecology from a variety of angles before there is intense fishing pressure in California. My work will hopefully be able to help inform a fisheries management plan, if one is developed for Humboldt squid in the U.S.
