For years, Northern Shortfin Squid didn’t get much attention. But we discovered its best kept secret: it is delicious.
Northern Shortfin Squid, Illex illecebrosus, lives farther north than its Longfin cousin, in the deeper and colder waters of the north Atlantic Ocean. Its fishery being further off-shore allows for larger schools of squid, making for more efficient harvests and minimizing by-catch. These two factored into two of our Premium Domestic Calamari's major selling points: not only is it a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable seafood, but it also is an excellent value for foodservice distributors, restaurants, and retail or grocery stores looking to offer a sustainable, product of the USA calamari, at an excellent price point.
Northern Shortfin Squid tends to be a little larger than Longfin, still fairly delicate, but boasting a more savory flavor profile and a somewhat buttery-white color. The larger tubes and rings make for excellent plate coverage, and if you love tentacles, don't leave them out of the order.
In the markets in the United States, the Northern Shortfin squid is sometimes called Summer Squid, as its fishing season is May through about September each year, or just called by its genus, illex. As neither of these are acceptable FDA market names, and to avoid confusion with the Argentine Shortfin Squid (Illex argentinus), we refer to it by its official Northern Shortfin squid name. But, if you contact us looking for USA illex squid - we'll know what you're talking about!
