204
main suppliers Peru and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) registered impressive
increases in their shipments to Spain, whereas China shipments declined by 13%
compared to the same period in 2016. The squid and cuttlefish imports into the
Republic of Korea increased by 32.3% during the first 9 months of 2017, to 73,700
tonnes. Supplies from Chile, Peru and China accounted for 93.5% of the imports.
US squid and cuttlefish imports rose by 5% during the first three quarters of 2017 to
49,200 tonnes. China dominates this trade, accounting for 72.5% of total US
imports. India and Peru are the second and third largest suppliers, accounting for
8.5% and 5.0% of the total, respectively (FAO-Globefish 2018b).
Fishery of Cuttlefishes
In the industrial fisheries, cuttlefishes usually are taken only as by-catch to other
target species in bottom trawls, even in cases where they make up a sizeable portion
of the catch. In the artisanal fisheries, on the other hand, they are actively sought
with highly selective gear and fishing techniques based on knowledge of the biology
and behaviour of the species. Such techniques include the use of aggregation devices
(e.g. light, substrates for egg deposition), live or artificial lures (for example, live
sexually mature females are used to attract males), and a variety of fishing gear,
such as harpoons, spears, trammel nets, pound nets, hoop nets, lines, jigs, baited
pots, etc. (Reid et al. 2005).
Basket traps has been the most popular cuttlefish fishing method since olden
times. Basket traps were used for capture of cuttlefish around Inland Sea in Japan,
Atlantic coast in Europe and in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Benthic
trapping and potting is carried out mostly in reef areas where fish and other animals
are concentrated by the sheltered nature of the bottom, either for protection or feeding purpose. Japanese fishermen have been using cuttlefish trap for Sepia esculenta
as early as 1660s. Full scale trap fishery began in 1920s hatching (Sasikumar
et al. 2015).
Some Important Species of Cuttlefishes
Sepia officinalis
It is a demersal, neritic species occurring predominantly on sandy to muddy bottoms from the coastline to about 200 m depth, but most abundant in the upper
100 m. In the western Mediterranean, in early spring, large individuals leave the
deeper water, where they spend the winter, to migrate into shallower water. Spawning
occurs in shallow waters, throughout the year, with peaks at water temperatures
from 13 to 15 °C. Growth rate varies directly with temperature and inversely with
size (Pascual 1978). Food consists of small molluscs, crabs, shrimps, other cuttlefishes, and juvenile demersal fishes. Cannibalism is common and has been interpreted as “strategy” to overcome temporary shortage of adequately sized prey
(FAO 2019d).
3 Molluscan Shellfish
main suppliers Peru and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) registered impressive
increases in their shipments to Spain, whereas China shipments declined by 13%
compared to the same period in 2016. The squid and cuttlefish imports into the
Republic of Korea increased by 32.3% during the first 9 months of 2017, to 73,700
tonnes. Supplies from Chile, Peru and China accounted for 93.5% of the imports.
US squid and cuttlefish imports rose by 5% during the first three quarters of 2017 to
49,200 tonnes. China dominates this trade, accounting for 72.5% of total US
imports. India and Peru are the second and third largest suppliers, accounting for
8.5% and 5.0% of the total, respectively (FAO-Globefish 2018b).
Fishery of Cuttlefishes
In the industrial fisheries, cuttlefishes usually are taken only as by-catch to other
target species in bottom trawls, even in cases where they make up a sizeable portion
of the catch. In the artisanal fisheries, on the other hand, they are actively sought
with highly selective gear and fishing techniques based on knowledge of the biology
and behaviour of the species. Such techniques include the use of aggregation devices
(e.g. light, substrates for egg deposition), live or artificial lures (for example, live
sexually mature females are used to attract males), and a variety of fishing gear,
such as harpoons, spears, trammel nets, pound nets, hoop nets, lines, jigs, baited
pots, etc. (Reid et al. 2005).
Basket traps has been the most popular cuttlefish fishing method since olden
times. Basket traps were used for capture of cuttlefish around Inland Sea in Japan,
Atlantic coast in Europe and in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Benthic
trapping and potting is carried out mostly in reef areas where fish and other animals
are concentrated by the sheltered nature of the bottom, either for protection or feeding purpose. Japanese fishermen have been using cuttlefish trap for Sepia esculenta
as early as 1660s. Full scale trap fishery began in 1920s hatching (Sasikumar
et al. 2015).
Some Important Species of Cuttlefishes
Sepia officinalis
It is a demersal, neritic species occurring predominantly on sandy to muddy bottoms from the coastline to about 200 m depth, but most abundant in the upper
100 m. In the western Mediterranean, in early spring, large individuals leave the
deeper water, where they spend the winter, to migrate into shallower water. Spawning
occurs in shallow waters, throughout the year, with peaks at water temperatures
from 13 to 15 °C. Growth rate varies directly with temperature and inversely with
size (Pascual 1978). Food consists of small molluscs, crabs, shrimps, other cuttlefishes, and juvenile demersal fishes. Cannibalism is common and has been interpreted as “strategy” to overcome temporary shortage of adequately sized prey
(FAO 2019d).
3 Molluscan Shellfish