SEAFOOD.COM NEWS– January 29, 2014 –China is the main market for Californias squid fishery, which has been booming lately. This past year, the quota of around 118,000 tons was reached in mid October.
Squid is the "most valuable fishery in the state of California,” said Diane Pleschner-Steele, the Buellton-based director of the California Wetfish Producers Association, which represents commercial fishermen who catch squid, mackerel, sardine, and anchovy. “This was an unusual year. They were spawning way early and everywhere at the same time,” she explained, noting that her association’s research revealed more young squid in August than they usually see in the peak winter season. “It’s a phenomenon we haven’t seen before.”
China imported 75,132,805 tons of squid from the US this year, an increase of about 15.79% over the 64,900 tons imported in 2012. China represented about 70% of the total market for California market squid in 2012, and that percentage should repeat in 2013, as the increase in catches led to higher Chinese imports.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.