As Water Warms, Humboldt Squid Moving North, Competing With California Fishermen - SC Sentinel

[hatrack]

SANTA CRUZ -- Marine biologists have known for years that 100-pound squid have quietly made their way from the tropical regions of the Pacific to the cooler reaches of California. With 10 arms, a sharp beak and a mythic reputation for hunting in packs and attacking everything from scuba divers to each other, the Humboldt squid, also known as the jumbo squid, is now a common sight for fishermen and a current fascination of ocean-gazers.

But how much of a nuisance the little-understood cephalopod could become has only recently become clear.

Researchers in Santa Cruz have found that the squid's favorite foods are some of the most popular catches of fishermen in the region -- meaning competition, and perhaps another threat to an industry that has long struggled in the Monterey Bay.

EDIT

While the squid's diet was historically thought to consist of krill, shrimp and small fish, Field has found that the squid are eating larger fish. Their preference is Pacific hake, which happens to be the largest fishery on the West Coast. Based primarily in the Pacific Northwest, the fishery is responsible for producing much of the nation's generic fish fillets and imitation crab.

EDIT

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?sid=65251&storySection=Top+Stories

[msongs]

1. let the people eat the squids - Its a gift from nature (I'll pass on em thx) nt

[phantom power]

2. Squid. Playing the long game.

http://www.thefutureiswild.com/index545e.html?level1id=3&level2id=8&level3id=11&level4id=35&level5id=35

[hunter]

4. Whenever anybody "falls overboard" with no witnesses...

I figure they've been taken by the squid.

:scared:

[formercia]

3. I'd rather eat Calimari

than faux crab legs any day.