Supporters say the changes are long overdue. Coveted by new markets in China and voracious yuppies gobbling calamari in America, squid has soared past salmon, swordfish and tuna over the past five years to become the top seafood species in California by volume and dollar value. When demand for squid grew, fishing crews from as far away as Washington, Oregon and Alaska steamed into California waters in search of the quick-swimming mollusks. There were no state catch limits, permits, seasons or boundaries, as other fisheries required. The new rules are a rare example of government stepping in to regulate a fishery before it crashes, say supporters.
Biologists note that squid are a key link in the Pacific food chain.
As with herring or anchovies, they provide food for salmon, sea lions, whales, dolphins and seabirds. Crash the squid population, and other sea life might follow. Still healthy The good news for many in the fishing community is that after several years of scientific study, the Department of Fish and Game report found that squid populations appear stable despite heavy fishing. Critics say that if there is no evidence of decline, new rules aren't needed. Reduce the number of vessel permits by 45 percent.