Certified Sustainable Calamari

Certified Sustainable Calamari

Jump to: Foodservice Wholesale Sustainable Calamari Options  |  Retail Wholesale Sustainable Calamari Options

The town Dock is proud to be a leader in sustainable squid!

There are only two squid species in the world that have the sustainable seafood designation: the iconic Longfin Inshore Squid (Doryteuthis pealeii), caught in Rhode Island and the western Atlantic, and Northern Shortfin Squid (Illex illecebrosus), caught in the cold, deep waters of the northern Atlantic. We offer both!

The Town Dock was one of the original sponsors of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification of the Longfin Inshore Squid and Northern Shortfin Squid fisheries. In addition to being MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch lists both Longfin Squid and Shortfin Squid as "Certified - Buy This Product". 

What does it mean to be a sustainable seafood? It comes down to three basic requirements:

• Is the squid population large enough and healthy enough?
• Does the fishing method offer minimal impact to the environment and other fish species?
• Is the fishery (which is the area where each species is caught) well-managed, with observation and catch quotas?

Not only did both Longfin Squid and Shortfin Squid satisfying all of these requirements for initial certification, but the MSC also audits the fisheries on an ongoing basis to ensure continued compliance and sustainability. For example, we are also keeping close watch on the Jumbo Squid fishery - considered a "fishery in progress," and a Seafood Watch Good Alternative, we have hopes of helping move this to a fully certified sustainable fishery for our Calamari Steaks and Strips. 

Beyond these important squid species, The Town Dock is a participating member of many sustainability focused organizations around the world, including the Ocean Disclosure Project; Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable; the Squid Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) Prevention Group; and the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.