A cooperative effort to track the Humboldt squid invasion in Oregon

A cooperative effort to track the Humboldt Squid invasion in Oregon
Selina Heppell and Sarikka Attoe
Research Plan
2010-2012

The problem
Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas aka Jumbo Squid) have experienced a dramatic range expansion
“Native Range” = south of Point Conception, CA
New Range = all the way to Alaska in some years
They are large (>1m) predators that can consume large prey items

The problem
Light gray shows native range
Darker grays show expanded range
Expansion to south mirrors ours in the north, but earlier?

Why has the range of Humboldt Squid expanded so drastically?
Theories:
Climate change
El Niňo events always resulted in temporary range expansions
After the 2002 El Niňo the squid populations have persisted in their new range
Shifts in the food web
Common prey = sardine, also more common in north lately
Overfishing of competitors and predators of juveniles?
http://envirocation.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/humboldt-squid.jpg

What are they eating in their new range?
No one knows
Are they breeding in their new range?
No one knows
Is someone eating them?
No one knows

Why do we care?
Commercial and recreational fishing are very important to the state of Oregon
Fishermen are pulling up target species with Squid actively eating the target species (for instance salmon)
High profile species: beach strandings, recreational fishing, Discovery Channel
Invasive? Indicators of climate change?

Diet
Anchovies
Hake
Mackerel
Sardines
Rockfish

Diet
Are they
Eating
Salmon?
(These were
caught at
the same
time)

Diet
Are they
eating
Tuna?

Diet
Hake = major prey item
Indications of negative impacts of squid in Chile

Cooperative Research
Goal: To determine the extent of jumbo squid in Oregon, correlations between catches and oceanographic variables, and prey composition within that range.

Research Plan
Interview fisherman and research historical catch information to determine where squid have been present and under what conditions.
Work with tuna, salmon, and charter fishermen to collect samples of jumbo squidin areas typically fished by the commercial and recreational industries.
Determine diet.
Create a GIS map of reported catches and CPUE.
Determine if squid are breeding.
Inform industry and the general public.

Diet analysis
Squid don’t always swallow prey whole!
Dissect stomachs
ID hard parts or large identifiable chunks of prey
DNA analysis of unidentifiable chunks of prey
Evaluate presence/absence, relative occurrence of different prey types in time and space
Compare to California and other parts of the jumbo squid range

Public Outreach .
Squid Cook Off
Get to know how delicious this invader tastes!
Display at Hatfield Visitor Center
Including a preserved squid!
Short Documentary with Oregon SeaGrant
Target fishermen and interested public

So what?
We will find out if the squid are feeding on key species, and their potential impact on Oregon fisheries
We will find out if the squid are breeding in Oregon or if they just move up there to eat
We will inform the public about the range expansion
We will inform efforts to establish Humboldt Squid as a new fishery in our area

Collaborators
Bill Hanshumaker and Oregon Sea Grant
Tuna and
salmon fishermen
Dr. William Gilly,
Stanford
Dr. John Field,
SW Fisheries
Science Center

A cooperative effort to track the Humboldt squid invasion in Oregon

by Oregon Sea Grant

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