First description of the emergence of targeted squid fisheries in the German North Sea demersal trawl fleet

As demersal fisheries in the southern North Sea are struggling for profitability, alternative high-value resources are in dire need. In the past few years, squid fishing has emerged as a profitable seasonal fishery. Due to the novelty of this fishery, detailed knowledge remains scarce, as no observer program has been facilitated yet, and catches are not reliably reported on the species level. Conclusions on the ecological and socio-economic implications of this novel strategy, therefore, remained speculative. We combined spatiotemporal hotspot data analysis and clustering techniques with onboard sampling to provide the first scientific description of this novel fishery. We identified a targeted fishery on the common squid Loligo vulgaris , taking place on highly localised fishing grounds, particularly four hotspots in the Southern North Sea and the Eastern English Channel, identified using Getis-Ord G statistics. Fishing activity followed a distinct seasonal trajectory shifting northwestwards from the beginning (October) towards the end (March) of the season. The economic relevance for the North Sea demersal fishing fleet is significant, as the share of overall revenues generated by squid rose from under 1% in 2018 to 21% in 2024. Targeted squid fishing requires considerable investments, but is, in terms of regulations, relatively open, as no quotas and only very few technical regulations apply under EU and UK law. Acknowledging the rapid increase of this fishery's economic importance, we highlight the need for commencing a strategic management process for emerging squid fisheries in the North Sea, ensuring long-term sustainability and avoiding ecological damage. • First scientific description of novel commercial squid fishing in the Southern North Sea • Combined data analysis and field sampling revealed spatiotemporal restriction • Common squid Loligo vulgaris is the singular target species • Economic relevance for the German demersal trawl fleet of the North Sea surged within two seasons • Fishing at the intersection of EU and UK EEZs calls for multilaterally coordinated management