Longfin Squid
Longfin Squid
Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii
Also Known As
Longfin inshore squid, Loligo, Winter squid, Boston squid
Quick Facts
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic,
Southeast
Longfin squid. Credit: National Undersea Research Center – University of Connecticut
Longfin squid. Credit: National Undersea Research Center – University of Connecticut
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught longfin squid is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Habitat Impact
Fishing gears used to harvest longfin squid have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- The species has a lifespan of less than one year. According to the 2023 stock assessment, longfin squid is not overfished. There is currently not enough information to determine whether the stock is subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- Longfin squid have an internal shell called a “pen.”
- Their fins are long, at least half the length of the mantle (large part of the squid in front of the head).
- The head has large eyes that are covered by a cornea.
- They are pink or orange and mottled with brown or purple.
- They are likely color blind, but are able to use special pigment cells in their skin (called chromatophores) to change their color and patterns to escape predators or disguise themselves from prey.
Biology
- Longfin squid grow fast, up to 1.6 feet mantle length (large part of the squid in front of the head), but usually less than 1 foot.
- They have a short life span, reproducing right before they die at around six to eight months old.
- Their growth and development is highly sensitive to environmental conditions. Squid hatched in the summer grow faster than those hatched in the winter.
- They spawn year-round, with peak production in winter and summer. The male cements bundles of spermatophores into the mantle cavity of the female and/or deposits them in a pouch located near her mouth. The spermatophores penetrate the ova, or sperm is stored for later use.
- The female lays fertilized egg capsules that contain about 150 to 200 eggs each in clusters attached to the ocean bottom, with a typical female laying a total of 3,000 to 6,000 eggs. Eggs hatch between 11 and 26 days later, depending on water temperature.
- Small immature longfin squid feed on plankton, and larger squid feed on crustaceans and small fish.
- They are aggressive hunters, can consume fish larger than themselves, and do eat their own species.
- They are a key prey species for a variety of marine mammals, diving birds, and finfish species.
Where They Live
Range
- Longfin squid are found from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Venezuela.
- In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, longfin squid are most abundant between Georges Bank and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Habitat
- Adults live over mud or sand/mud substrates of the continental shelf and upper continental slope in waters as deep as 1,300 feet.
- Adults and juveniles migrate vertically in the water column, remaining near the seabed during the day and moving toward the surface at night.
- North of Cape Hatteras, squid migrate seasonally—offshore during late autumn to spend the winter in warmer waters along the shelf edge and slope, and back inshore during the spring where they remain until late autumn.
- Squid egg masses are attached to rocks and small boulders or aquatic vegetation and on sandy bottoms.
- Paralarvae are found in surface waters. Juveniles also live in the upper water column in water 165 to 1,650 feet deep.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the longfin squid fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan:
- Fishermen with a limited access permit can fish for unlimited amounts of longfin squid while the fishery is open. All other fishermen must obtain an incidental catch permit, and have possession limits.
- An annual coastwide catch quota is divided into trimester allocations. Managers monitor annual quotas closely, as there can be large fluctuations in abundance from year to year.
- Managers set a cap on the amount of butterfish that can be incidentally caught in the longfin squid fishery to help prevent overfishing on the butterfish stock.
Harvest
- In 2024, commercial landings totaled 29 million pounds, and were valued at $32.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Fisheries for longfin squid reflect the species’ seasonal migrations.
- The majority of landings come from Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
- Harvested for bait since the late 1800s, longfin squid have been harvested since the mid-1960’s for their mild, sweet meat.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- The majority of longfin squid is harvested year-round using small-mesh bottom trawls. There are now only a few fishermen that use pound nets and fish traps during the spring and early summer when squid migrate inshore.
- Sandy or muddy habitat, where squid are fished, is less sensitive to the impacts of trawling.
- Small-mesh bottom trawls can incidentally catch marine mammals and large pelagic species, including pilot whales, common dolphin, swordfish, and a variety of shark, ray, and tuna species. Finfish such as butterfish, hakes, Illex squid, fluke, herring, spiny dogfish, and Atlantic mackerel are also incidentally caught in this fishery.
- Measures to prevent or minimize bycatch include:
- Bycatch cap for butterfish caught in the longfin fishery.
- Minimum mesh size requirements for bottom trawl nets, but bycatch escapement is very limited because the codend mesh sizes are very small (1 7/8 in. during Trimester 2 and 2 1/8 in. during Trimesters 1 and 3) and are covered by an additional layer of mesh called a strengthener.
- Outreach to fishermen to educate them on actions to take in the event of a marine mammal interaction.
- Real-time communication to vessels regarding hotspots of marine mammal interactions.
Scientific Classification
- Longfin squid are found from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Venezuela.
- In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, longfin squid are most abundant between Georges Bank and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
- Adults live over mud or sand/mud substrates of the continental shelf and upper continental slope in waters as deep as 1,300 feet.
- Adults and juveniles migrate vertically in the water column, remaining near the seabed during the day and moving toward the surface at night.
- North of Cape Hatteras, squid migrate seasonally—offshore during late autumn to spend the winter in warmer waters along the shelf edge and slope, and back inshore during the spring where they remain until late autumn.
- Squid egg masses are attached to rocks and small boulders or aquatic vegetation and on sandy bottoms.
- Paralarvae are found in surface waters. Juveniles also live in the upper water column in water 165 to 1,650 feet deep.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the longfin squid fishery.
- Managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan:
- Fishermen with a limited access permit can fish for unlimited amounts of longfin squid while the fishery is open. All other fishermen must obtain an incidental catch permit, and have possession limits.
- An annual coastwide catch quota is divided into trimester allocations. Managers monitor annual quotas closely, as there can be large fluctuations in abundance from year to year.
- Managers set a cap on the amount of butterfish that can be incidentally caught in the longfin squid fishery to help prevent overfishing on the butterfish stock.
Harvest
- In 2024, commercial landings totaled 29 million pounds, and were valued at $32.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Fisheries for longfin squid reflect the species’ seasonal migrations.
- The majority of landings come from Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
- Harvested for bait since the late 1800s, longfin squid have been harvested since the mid-1960’s for their mild, sweet meat.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- The majority of longfin squid is harvested year-round using small-mesh bottom trawls. There are now only a few fishermen that use pound nets and fish traps during the spring and early summer when squid migrate inshore.
- Sandy or muddy habitat, where squid are fished, is less sensitive to the impacts of trawling.
- Small-mesh bottom trawls can incidentally catch marine mammals and large pelagic species, including pilot whales, common dolphin, swordfish, and a variety of shark, ray, and tuna species. Finfish such as butterfish, hakes, Illex squid, fluke, herring, spiny dogfish, and Atlantic mackerel are also incidentally caught in this fishery.
- Measures to prevent or minimize bycatch include:
- Bycatch cap for butterfish caught in the longfin fishery.
- Minimum mesh size requirements for bottom trawl nets, but bycatch escapement is very limited because the codend mesh sizes are very small (1 7/8 in. during Trimester 2 and 2 1/8 in. during Trimesters 1 and 3) and are covered by an additional layer of mesh called a strengthener.
- Outreach to fishermen to educate them on actions to take in the event of a marine mammal interaction.
- Real-time communication to vessels regarding hotspots of marine mammal interactions.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Mollusca | Class | Cephalopoda | Order | Myopsida | Family | Loliginidae | Genus | Doryteuthis | Species | pealeii |
|---|
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Seafood Facts
Is Longfin Squid Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught longfin squid is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Southern Massachusetts to North Carolina.
Taste
Mild and slightly sweet.
Texture
Firm.
Color
Raw squid is ivory colored with a speckled membrane. Cooked squid is opaque white.
Health Benefits
Squid are an excellent source of selenium, riboflavin, and vitamin B12.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g; Calories: 92; Protein: 15.58 g; Total Fat: 1.38 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.358 g; Carbohydrate: 3.08 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 233 mg; Selenium: 44.8 mcg; Sodium: 44 mgSquid (Calamari) Recipes
Looking for some ways to add squid into your rotation? If you need cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for squid chowder, classic fried calamari, and more!
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Closed and Restricted Areas
This page provides a broad overview of the closed and gear restricted areas that apply to the longfin squid fishery.
Oceanographer Canyon and Lydonia Canyon
Mackerel, squid, and butterfish vessels are prohibited from fishing with bottom trawl gear in Oceanographer Canyon or Lydonia Canyon, or being in Oceanographer or Lydonia Canyon unless transiting. Vessels may only transit these areas if bottom trawl gear is stowed and not available for immediate use. These restrictions are in place year-round.
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Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA)
The Fluke, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) includes two gear restricted areas (GRA) that apply during different periods during the year. These GRAs impact vessels fishing for longfin squid.
Scup GRA Details
November 1 – December 31 | January 1 – March 15 |
Minimum mesh size of 5.0 inch diamond mesh | Minimum mesh size of 5.0 inch diamond mesh |
Transit allowed if codends less than 5.0 inches are stowed and not available for immediate use. | Transit allowed if codends less than 5.0 inches are stowed and not available for immediate use. |
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Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Areas
Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Closed Areas
The Northeast Multispecies FMP includes a number of closed areas that apply to vessels fishing for longfin squid. For an overview of these areas, please see our groundfish closed areas webpage.
Exempted Fishing
The Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan includes gear requirements for each regulated mesh area (RMA) in the Greater Atlantic Region. In some cases, there are exemptions from these gear requirements for vessels fishing for longfin squid. A Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Regional Administrator is required to fish under some of these exemptions. You can apply for an LOA through your Fish Online account. If you need help with the online application or setting up an account, or have any other questions about the online forms and applications, please contact our Permits Office at (978) 282‐8438 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET or email NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov.
Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank Small-Mesh Exemption Areas
Vessels may fish for whiting using small-mesh bottom trawl gear in the exemption areas listed below, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- Vessels must comply with all applicable season, area, and gear requirements.
- Vessels must comply with all applicable possession limits.
- Vessels must be issued a whiting (Category K Open Access Northeast Multispecies) permit or a limited access Northeast multispecies permit.
Vessels fishing for whiting in some of these exemption areas may only retain squid as incidental catch while fishing for whiting (they may not target squid).
Small-Mesh Exemption Area Details
Area | Season | LOA Required | Squid as Incidental Catch Only? |
Gulf of Maine Grate Raised Footrope Trawl Whiting Fishery Exemption Area |
July 1 – November 30
| No | Yes |
June 15 – October 31
| Yes | Yes | |
Small-Mesh Area 1: July 15 – November 15
Small-Mesh Area 2: January 1 – June 30 | No | No (may target) | |
Raised Footrope Trawl Exempted Whiting Fishery Areas (Cape Cod) | September 1 – November 20; September 1 – December 31
| Yes | Yes |
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Midwater Trawl Gear Exempted Fishery
Vessels may fish with midwater trawl gear equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- The vessel fishes exclusively with midwater trawl gear.
- The vessel carries an observer, if requested by the Regional Administrator.
- When fishing in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area:
- The vessel is issued an LOA (minimum 7-day duration).
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, or mackerel north of 42°20′ N latitude, in Closed Area I North, and in Closed Area II.
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, mackerel, or squid south of 42°20′ N latitude.
- The vessel does not fish for, possess, or land groundfish, except:
- A vessel issued a Category A or B herring permit fishing on a declared herring trip may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- A vessel issued a Category C, D, or E herring permit fishing with midwater trawl gear may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- Such haddock and other regulated groundfish may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, transferred for, or intended for human consumption.
- Haddock and other regulated groundfish that are separated out from the herring catch by dealers/processors may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, or transferred for any purpose.
- The vessel must submit a pre-trip notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 48 hrs prior to beginning a trip if:
- The vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit and is fishing on a declared herring trip; or
- The vessel is issued a Category C, D, or E herring permit and is fishing with midwater trawl gear in Herring Management Area 1A, 1B, or 3.
- The vessel must submit a pre-landing notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 6 hrs prior to landing (or as soon as the vessel stops catching fish, if fishing ends less than 6 hrs before landing), if:
- The vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit and is fishing on a declared herring trip with midwater trawl gear; or
- The vessel is issued a Category C or E herring permit and is fishing with midwater trawl gear in Herring Management Area 1A, 1B, or 3.
Purse Seine Gear Exempted Fishery
Vessels may fish with purse seine gear equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size, as long as they meet the following conditions:
- The vessel fishes exclusively with purse seine gear.
- The vessel carries an observer, if requested by the Regional Administrator.
- When fishing in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area:
- The vessel is issued an LOA (minimum 7-day duration).
- The vessel only fishes for, possesses, or lands Atlantic herring, blueback herring, mackerel, or menhaden.
- The vessel does not fish for, possess, or land groundfish, except:
- A vessel issued a Category A or B herring permit fishing on a declared herring trip may possess and land haddock and other regulated groundfish, consistent with the applicable catch caps and possession restrictions. Haddock that has been brought or pumped into the hold may not be discarded.
- Such haddock and other regulated groundfish may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, transferred for, or intended for human consumption.
- Haddock and other regulated groundfish that are separated out from the herring catch by dealers/processors may not be (or may not attempt to be) sold, purchased, received, traded, bartered, or transferred for any purpose.
- The vessel must submit a pre-trip notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 48 hrs prior to beginning a trip if the vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit.
- The vessel must submit a pre-landing notification to NOAA Fisheries at least 6 hrs prior to landing (or as soon as the vessel stops catching fish, if fishing ends less than 6 hrs before landing), if the vessel is issued a Category A or B herring permit.
Southern New England Exemption Area
Vessels may fish for, harvest, possess, or land longfin squid (as well as certain other species) using nets equipped with mesh smaller than the applicable minimum size in the Georges Bank or Southern New England RMAs when fishing in the Southern New England Exemption Area, provided they comply with all applicable gear stowage requirements and possession restrictions.
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Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of longfin squid. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
For detailed information about stock status, management, assessments, and resource trends, you can search for longfin squid, or any other species of interest, using NOAA’s StockSMART web tool.
Stock Assessment Review Index
Fishery Stock Assessments in New England and the Mid-Atlantic provides general information about stock assessments, and the Stock Assessment Review Index contains copies of completed assessment documents.
