A cooperative effort to track the Humboldt Squid invasion

in Oregon

Selina Heppell and Sarikka Attoe

Research Plan2010-2012

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

Hake Anchovies

Mackerel

Sardines Rockfish

Diet

Are theyEatingSalmon?(These werecaught atthe sametime)

Diet

Are theyeatingTuna?

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 squid in 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