July 24
Monterey, Calif. — Jumbo squid that can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh more than 110 pounds is invading central California waters and preying on local anchovy, hake and other commercial fish.

An aggressive predator, the Humboldt squid or Dosidicus gigas can change its eating habits to consume the food supply favored by tuna and sharks, its closest competitors.

The jumbo squid used to be found only in the Pacific Ocean's warmest stretches near the equator. In the last 16 years, it has expanded its territory throughout California waters, and squid have even been found in the icy waters off Alaska.

A Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute senior scientist first spotted the jumbo squid here in 1997, when one swam past the lens of a camera mounted on a submersible thousands of feet below the ocean's surface.

Before the 1970s, the giant squid were typically found in the Eastern Pacific, and in coastal waters spanning from Peru to Costa Rica. But as the populations of its natural predators like large tuna, sharks and swordfish, declined because of fishing, the squids moved northward and started eating different species that thrive in colder waters.

Local marine mammals needn't worry about the squid's arrival since they're higher up on the food chain, but lanternfish, krill, anchovies and rockfish are all fair game.

But in bad years it could be a problem to have a new predator competing at the top of the food chain.
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