Live Fast, Die Young: The Boom and Bust Dynamics of California Market Squid

Market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) support the largest and most valuable fishery in California, however their population trajectory is unassessed, their abundance is unknown, and a sustainable harvest rate remains uncertain. The population experiences large booms and busts, with landings completely disappearing in some years. Despite their importance and volatility, little is known about the population drivers of market squid. Here, using a suite of multi-decadal time series, combined with laboratory rearing of squid paralarvae, and statolith measurements of wild-caught squid, we find that fluctuations in squid abundance are driven by the combined effects of density-dependence and prey availability. We develop and test a predictive model which we suggest may be used by fishery managers to forecast these booms and busts, helping to ensure the sustainability of California's last great marine fishery.