CephCo

Background and Objective

Squid are of growing interest to fisheries in the North Sea. However, there are still many knowledge gaps regarding these new stocks. As discussions around future management measures—such as catch limits—gain momentum, the Thünen Institute is increasingly being consulted. As one element toward the sustainable use of these stocks, we aim to investigate how North Sea squid perform as a food product. Are these new stocks more or less contaminated with environmental pollutants compared to squid from other regions? And how do they fit into the ecosystem?

Approach

Squid from the North Sea and other selected stocks will be analyzed for their composition as a food product.

Samples for this project will be collected during the IBTS surveys conducted by the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries.

The edible portions of the squid will be examined for, among other things:

1. Contaminants

2. Essential fatty acids

3. Basic composition (water, fat, protein, ash)

These and other available data will be evaluated in the context of food safety regulations, stock development, the species' role in the food web, and future stock management.

Data and Methods

The chemical-analytical methods include, among others:

• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) for heavy metals
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for PFAS
• Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) for fatty acids

Links and Downloads

Thünen working groups supporting the project:

• Marine Ecosystems (SF)
• Economic Analyses of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SF)
• How Are Squid Stocks Changing and What Are the Consequences? (SF/OF)
• Chemical Trace Analysis (FI)
• Coordination Office for Monitoring Environmental Radioactivity in Fish (FI)