Latest reviewed evidence
Codex CXS 191-1995 applies to quick-frozen raw squid from the Loliginidae and Ommastrephidae families offered for direct consumption, requires a thermal-centre temperature of -18 degrees Celsius or colder after stabilization, calls for presentation and frozen status to be declared, excludes glaze from net contents and uses an AQL of 6.5 with at least a one-kilogram sample portion for individually quick-frozen product. The European Commission likewise states that declared net weight for glazed seafood excludes glaze. NOAA records distinct California market, longfin and shortfin squid species, fisheries, gears, seasons and dated U.S. landings or management limits. FDA's seafood guidance requires a species- and process-specific hazard analysis. These are identity, process, labelling, safety and fishery references—not certificates for an offered lot, universal grade rules, current supply or a live delivered price.
Codex quick-frozen squid thermal-centre ceiling
-18
degrees Celsius or colder after thermal stabilization · Codex CXS 191-1995, 2024 amendment and 2026 edition
Codex quick-frozen squid lot-sampling AQL
6.5
acceptance quality limit · Codex CXS 191-1995, 2026 edition
Codex individually quick-frozen squid sample portion
1
kilogram, minimum portion · Codex CXS 191-1995, 2026 edition
NOAA California market-squid commercial landings
127
million pounds · 2024
NOAA California market-squid landed value
68
million U.S. dollars · 2024
NOAA U.S. longfin-squid commercial landings
29
million pounds · 2024
NOAA U.S. longfin-squid landed value
32.5
million U.S. dollars · 2024
NOAA 2026 Illex acceptable biological catch
40000
metric tonnes · 2026 fishery specification
NOAA 2026 Illex initial optimum yield
38631
metric tonnes · 2026 fishery specification
Scientific species identity comes before a squid grade
Codex CXS 191-1995 covers squid in the Loliginidae and Ommastrephidae families, while NOAA separately identifies California market squid as Doryteuthis opalescens, longfin squid as Doryteuthis pealeii and shortfin squid as Illex illecebrosus. The word squid therefore does not establish species, fishery, body size, texture or destination name. Atlas retains scientific name, accepted market name, identification authority, catch documentation and any laboratory or traceability evidence rather than normalizing every squid label into one lot.
Wild-caught, cultured, area, vessel and gear stay explicit
NOAA describes materially different fisheries: California market squid are commonly taken with purse seines and scoop nets, longfin squid mainly with small-mesh bottom trawls, and shortfin Illex under its own federal permit and quota framework. A cultured claim would require separate farm, stock and production evidence. Atlas records wild or cultured status, FAO or regulatory area, coordinates where permitted, vessel or farm, flag and authorization, gear or cultivation method, catch or harvest date, landing port and custody; an exporter address does not prove harvest origin or method.
Whole, cleaned, tubes, rings, fins and tentacles are separate forms
Whole or round squid can include head, viscera, mantle, fins, arms and tentacles, while gutted, cleaned, tube-only, ring, fin and tentacle products have different edible yields and processing histories. Skin-on or skinless, beak and pen removal, trimming, washing, treatment, breading, cooking and preparation also change the product. Atlas retains each physical form, piece composition, recovery basis, treatment and intended use and never transfers a whole-squid weight, grade or value directly to cleaned tubes or prepared products.
Fresh, chilled, frozen and dried squid need separate process records
Fresh or chilled squid depends on rapid cooling and a documented temperature history. Codex quick-frozen raw squid must pass the maximum-crystallization range quickly, reach -18 degrees Celsius or colder at the thermal centre after stabilization and remain deep frozen through transport, storage and distribution. Block frozen, individually quick-frozen, thawed or previously frozen, dried, salted, cooked and ready-to-eat products are not equivalent. Atlas records process, time and temperature, freezing method, cold-store and reefer logs, thaw history and shelf-life basis for the actual lot.
Size, count, glaze and net weight require a declared basis
A size number can refer to mantle length, individual weight, pieces per kilogram, pieces per pound or a buyer-specific band; it is not portable without its unit and tolerance. Glazing protects frozen seafood but adds ice mass. Codex and the European Commission state that declared net contents for glazed seafood exclude glaze. Atlas therefore records grading method and sample, count or weight band, tolerances, gross weight, declared glaze percentage, deglazing method, net weight excluding glaze and drained or thawed yield instead of comparing gross glazed cartons with net product weight.
Food-safety controls follow species, process and intended use
FDA's Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance organizes hazards by species and process, including harvest-area pathogens, parasites, natural toxins, environmental contaminants, methylmercury, time-temperature abuse, inadequate drying, undeclared allergens and physical hazards where applicable. The relevant control set changes for raw, frozen, dried, cooked or ready-to-eat squid and by destination. Atlas retains the hazard analysis, HACCP or equivalent plan, critical records, microbiological and chemical panel, sample, method, result, laboratory and intended use; a generic health certificate does not replace exact-lot evidence.
Sensory condition and defects belong to the sampled lot
Codex requires quick-frozen raw squid to be prepared from sound squid fit to be sold fresh and to minimize dehydration and oxidation. Dehydration, freezer burn, oxidation, discoloration, odour, texture breakdown, torn mantles, residual viscera, skin, beaks, pens, foreign matter and non-declared species are different conditions or defects. Atlas records the sampling plan, sample-unit size, lot size, acceptance rule, inspection temperature, defect definitions, counts or percentages, photographs where permitted and inspector rather than applying a market adjective to an unexamined shipment.
Fishery status and certification claims are species and scope specific
NOAA's California market, longfin and shortfin pages describe different stock information, management measures, harvest gears and dated landings. A management statement for one U.S. fishery cannot be transferred to another species, country, vessel or lot. Atlas retains species, stock or management unit, assessment date, authorization, catch certificate, chain-of-custody scope and certificate status separately, and does not infer sustainable, responsibly harvested, legal or traceable from the word squid or a country name.
Standards and fishery statistics do not establish delivered squid value
A Codex process requirement, NOAA landing total, quota or landed value does not establish a current offer's species, form, grade, availability or delivered cost. A defensible physical assessment still needs permitted current observations for the exact species, harvest method and area, whole or processed form, size or count, glaze and net weight, quality and food-safety evidence, package, lot and custody, quantity, currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, delivery window, cold-chain and freight costs and information vintage. Atlas withholds a delivered estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.