Former squid fishers reveal alarming reports of environmental harm and labor exploitation in unregulated fishing zones, driven by a lack of oversight.
Environmental Crimes in Unregulated Waters
Recent investigations by the nonprofit Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) have uncovered severe environmental destruction and labor abuses associated with the unregulated squid fishing industry. The report features testimonies from hundreds of former crew members from Indonesia and the Philippines, shedding light on the alarming practices rife in the sector.
The study draws attention to three critical regions—the Northwest Indian Ocean, the Southeast Pacific, and the Southwest Atlantic—that collectively provide over 60% of the world's squid supply. "What we have uncovered reveals a level of secrecy that would be unacceptable in any other industry," stated Dominic Thomson, EJF’s squid fisheries director. With squid becoming a multi-billion dollar global commodity, many fishing fleets operate without regulatory oversight, leading to rampant exploitation.
The Problem of Governance
Suitable governance for squid fishing remains elusive. As open ocean areas are often considered the "wild, wild west," no single nation assumes responsibility for squid stocks in international waters. Sarah Uhlemann from the Center for Biological Diversity emphasized that without effective regulation, illegal fishing and human rights abuses become normalized.
Fisheries often employ "light-luring" technology to catch squid during nighttime. These ships use bright lights visible even from space to attract not only squid but also other marine species, including plankton, anchovies, and sardines. Consequently, countless apex predators like dolphins and sea turtles become entangled or caught as bycatch. Reports indicate that over 50% of assessed Chinese vessels exhibit this concerning practice.
Bycatch and Environmental Impact
Deeply troubling accounts from crew members include deliberate acts of cruelty towards marine life. One Indonesian fisherman recounted returning dead dolphins to the ocean, confirming that they were caught as bycatch. A Filipino colleague described a brutal tactic where wounded dolphins were kept on deck as dead bait to deter other dolphins. Another report detailed a turtle kept ensnared for months as live bait. Such practices reveal the depths of environmental disregard among some fishing operators.
Illicit practices extend beyond the cruel treatment of wildlife. Investigations highlighted that squid fleets regularly target commercially valuable fish species alongside their primary catch. In the Northwest Indian Ocean, fleets capture between 10 and 15 tons of high-value tuna species, such as skipjack and bigeye, on a daily basis. Alarmingly, none of the 200-plus ships involved are registered with the relevant tuna commission, leading to unaccounted extractive activities in the region.
Squid stocks experience relentless pressure due to these practices, as high-speed extraction inhibits proper processing and storage. Crew members reported discarding rotting squid overboard, illustrating a severe waste problem. Dominic Thomson described one incident where more than 200 sacks of squid spoiled on a Korean vessel off the coast of Argentina.
Transshipment and Labor Exploitation
Transshipment—where vessels offload their catch to refrigerated ships while remaining at sea—emerges as a critical underpinning of environmental damage. Notably, 97% of interviewed fishers depend on transshipment to sustain long fishing trips. Data shows that the number of Chinese-flagged reefers substantially increased from 2020 to 2025, suggesting a correlation between prolonged sea duration and rising criminal activities.
China’s prominence as the largest squid and cuttlefish exporter has drawn significant negative attention, particularly regarding its fishing practices. The report found that Chinese vessels engage in shark finning at rates seven times higher than Korean vessels, exposing the sharks to brutal practices tied to the demand for shark fin soup and traditional medicine.
Workers within this system endure dire living and labor conditions, with many experiencing forced labor symptoms, such as debt bondage and physical abuse. The report indicated that across Chinese vessels alone, there were 25 documented frog deaths, primarily due to beriberi—a malnutrition-related disease that was once prevalent in sea-going labor populations.
The testimonies from crew members reveal widespread mistreatment, including reports of receiving spoiled food and inadequate living conditions. One Filipino fisher shared his harrowing experience with deceased crewmates, noting the body was stored with catches before being unceremoniously disposed of at sea.
Call for Urgent Reform
The EJF report urges for international reforms, advocating for multilateral treaties, enhanced supply-chain transparency, and stricter controls on transshipment to prevent consumer markets from inadvertently supporting unethical practices. Steve Trent, EJF's founder and CEO, stated, "This investigation reveals a systemic failure of governance on the high seas. Without urgent action, we risk complicity in a system built on exploitation and secrecy."
The report’s findings serve as a crucial warning regarding the urgent need for substantive action to address both environmental degradation and human rights violations in the squid fishing sector. As global markets continue to consume squid, consumers, retailers, and governments are called to recognize their role in demanding accountability throughout the supply chain.
The transition towards responsible fishing practices hinges on transparency, enhanced regulations, and a collective movement toward sustainable fisheries that prioritize both human rights and ecological integrity.
