Classification of European Illex coindetii and Loligo forbesii Squid Stocks by Trace Element Analysis of Statoliths

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Friday, 28 August 2026 09:39

Sampling areas for Illex coindetii and Loligo forbesii in the North Sea (NS), Sea West of Scotland (SS), Celtic Sea (CS), Balearic Sea (BS), Sea West of Sardinia (SWS), Sea East of Sardinia (SES), Western Ionian Sea (IS), South Adriatic Sea (AS) in the North East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea during 2021–2022 :: Image: Authors

Bianca T. C. Bobowski, Anne Marie Power, Finlay Burns, Pierluigi Carbonara, Danila Cuccu, Maria Cristina Follesa, Klaus Peter Jochum, Ana Moreno, Inna M. Sokolova, Maria Valls, Daniel Oesterwind, 2026. Classification of European Illex coindetii and Loligo forbesiiSquid Stocks by Trace Element Analysis of Statoliths. Fisheries Management and Ecology.Volume 33.Issue 2Apr 2026 https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.70016


Abstract:We investigated whether statolith microchemistry analysis could classify ommastrephid and loliginid squid species into fisherystocks. Statolith nucleus (early life stage) and edge (life stage at time before catch) of Illex coindetii (Verany, 1839) and Loligo forbesii (Steenstrup, 1856) from various areas of the North East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea during 2021–2022 wereanalysed using laser ablation ICP-MS to measure values of 11 trace elements (Na, Mg, Mn, Fe Co, Cu, Zn, Sr., Ba, Pb and U) nextto calcium. Four stocks were categorised for I. coindetii and five stocks for L. forbesii amongst sample areas. Common hatchingareas and migration into distinct fishing regions were also identified. Our results provide substantial information to sustainablymanage fisheries for both species in European waters by providing stock definitions, spawning periods and migration patterns.

Keywords:Loliginidae,Myopsida,Oegopsida,Ommastrephidae,statolith microchemistry analysis,stock structure.

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