Baked, Stuffed Squid

Backstory and Sustainability

My father fishes crab in my hometown, South East Bight, Newfoundland. Crab pots (or traps) require bait to attract their targets, so fishers sometimes use recreational fisheries, like squid, as a source of bait. However, the northern shortfin squid is also enjoyed by my family, and baked, stuffed squid is one of my favourite meals that my mom would cook. I would love to help her clean the squid and stuff it with dressing, and it made the house smell amazing while it was cooking. I would love to come home from school to the smell and was always impatient for it to finish cooking.

Squid migrates to this area between mid-August to October in my area, so I would only get this meal once or twice a year because it tastes best with fresh squid. Environmental cues cause the squid to travel to shallow waters which is ideal for recreational and artisanal fisheries. They tend to wash close to the shore during this time of year during the low tides, and normally late evening into early morning is the best time to catch them. They can be caught by using a fishing rod, or by using a squid jigger.

The nature of recreational fisheries can be difficult to monitor; however, recreational fisheries tend to employ traditional practices, which are often more sustainable. In addition to the recreational squid fishery in Newfoundland, there is also a commercial fishery for shortfin squid.

For most Canadians, obtaining fresh squid is difficult, but there are commercial sources available. When purchasing squid consumers can check recommendations, like that of Ocean Wise. Fishing technique is a major consideration. Fortunately, jigging provides the highest quality product and is a sustainable harvesting method. Pictured is a Champney's West, Newfoundland, commercial, inshore, squid fisher who uses a jigger to capture their quota. An old fisher proverb states that squid are found in their greatest quantities roughly every seven years. This is because of squid's cyclical nature and relatively quick life cycle. Species that experience fluctuations in population abundance require particular care and attention to prevent over harvesting.