Hundreds of distant-water vessels are plundering squid populations in the Southwest Atlantic, driving a keystone species towards collapse and exposing workers to ‘horrific abuses’, according to a new investigation from the Environmental Justice Foundation.

The report has been launched this week with a coinciding film showcasing the extent of the crisis. 

Each year – as Argentine shortfin squid migrate out of Argentina’s waters – fleets of industrial jigging vessels descend on the high seas just beyond the national boundary, an area known as Mile 201. It’s a fleet so vast that its lights can be seen from space.

Research from the Environmental Justice Foundation has revealed that between 2019 and 2024, fishing hours by Chinese squid vessels in the region increased by 85%, even as landings showed alarming signs of decline.

The Argentine shortfin squid is a cornerstone of both the Southwest Atlantic ecosystem and economy. As one of the few species occupying an intermediate position in the regional food chain, it sustains dolphins, seals, whales, seabirds, and commercially valuable fish such as hake and tuna, while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for Argentina.

However, with next to no regulations in place, the Environmental Justice Foundation argues in its new report that the exploitation of this fishery is almost completely uncontrolled, “putting the entire ecosystem at risk.” In fact, it provided 12.2% of the global squid catch in 2023 while fishing pressure in this high seas fishery is over four times greater than within the adjacent regulated Argentine waters.

“Without urgent action, we are heading for disaster,” said Steve Trent, ceo and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation. “Overfishing and climate breakdown are placing enormous pressure on this keystone species, while those responsible – primarily fishers from China – commit shocking human rights abuses with impunity.”

In fact, the Environmental Justice Foundation’s investigation has detailed extensive human rights abuses aboard squid vessels. Interviews with Indonesian and Filipino crew revealed violence, intimidation, excessive working hours, and wage deductions, with almost two thirds of Chinese squid vessels linked to deaths or physical assaults on board. 

Crews also reported illegal and cruel targeting of vulnerable wildlife, including shark finning and the deliberate killing of marine mammals such as South American fur seals.

The lack of oversight means that products linked to these abuses may well be entering major markets, including the EU, North America, and the UK. There are also concerns that the unregulated fishing of squid in the area could easily trigger a collapse at any moment.

“A collapse could happen extremely rapidly, triggering cascading impacts on marine life,” said Trent. “Governments must act now to bring regulation, transparency, and accountability to this lawless fishery.”

The publication of the report comes with a list of recommended urgent actions for governments to take. Among them, the Environmental Justice Foundation is calling for international collaboration to establish science-based catch limits and monitoring for squid in the Southwest Atlantic; end the use of forced labour and ensure full traceability of seafood supply chains; and strengthen port controls and ban imports linked to illegal or abusive fishing practices.

“Squid are vital to ocean health and to the people who depend on the sea for food and livelihoods,” continued Trent. “Governments must work together to protect them, or risk a catastrophe that will reverberate far beyond these waters. 

“First and foremost, they must endorse and implement the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of low- or no-cost actions that any government can take to drive progress towards legal, ethical, and sustainable fisheries.”

The full report is available to read here. Click here for more from the Oceanographic Newsroom.