The US National Fisheries Institute reported in January 2016 that it expects global squid supplies to remain stable in 2016. From 2000 to 2014, global annual squid landings varied between 2.7 million tonnes and 3.5 million tonnes. In 2014 and 2015 global landings were about 3.0 – 3.2 million tonnes annually. However, there has been a marked shift between the most important species. Particularly California market squid have seen strongly declining numbers.

US squid landings were quite high at around 145 000 tonnes in 2000, then declined more or less steadily to just under 60 000 tonnes in 2008, and shot up to over 150 000 tonnes in 2010. But since then, US landings have fallen off again, reaching only some 50 000 tonnes in 2015. Catches off California, which constitute about 85% of total US squid landings, have been the most negatively impacted.

US squid exports saw a corresponding decline, from almost 150 000 tonnes in 2011 to just under 80 000 tonnes in 2015. US imports, on the other hand, have been very stable around 70 000 tonnes for the last 6 years. It should be noted that while US exports are mainly whole squid, imports are mainly comprised of processed squid, sometimes re-imports of US raw material.
In Argentina, squid fishing began in early February, and by the middle of the month, a total of 64 joggers were participating. Yields were reported to be variable and the sizes caught were rather small, which is normal for this time of year.

In 2015, about 126 500 tonnes of illex squid were landed in Argentina, a 25% drop compared with 2014. This drop in illex squid landings contributed to the 4.2% fall in total seafood landings in Argentina in 2015. Of the total landings, about 95 000 tonnes of illex squid were exported. It is expected that both landings and exports will be somewhat higher in 2016. The Loligo squid season in Argentina started three weeks later (at the end of February), with 16 vessels participating in the fishery.

The Falklands (Malvinas) illex squid season also started in mid-February. According to FIS.com, a total of 105 licences had been issued, a number that has remained stable for the past few years. It is too early to predict any results yet, but in 2015 landings of Illex reached a record of 358 000 tonnes.
In Peru, there has been concern about the poor catches of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) for some time, but it now seems that the catches are slowly improving.