The value chain of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) in Mexico: Diagnostic, structural analysis, and scenarios

The value chain for jumbo squid fishery encompasses a process of linking multiple components and actors that generate and promote capitalization of the added value of this fishery product. This study aims to diagnose the value chain for jumbo squid in Mexico using the structural analysis approach, allowing a description of the main actors, and their interactions with the markets, socioeconomic drivers, as well as the influence of different variables in the performance of jumbo squid chain value. The results derived from the structural analysis, six variables (related to the transformation, marketing, and consumption activities) and two actors (producers and academic research) were identified as the most relevant. The competitive advantages and added value could be reached by integrating the aspects related to the most relevant variables and taking appropriate decisions to deal with situations of uncertainty, which can promote weak nodes in the value chain, primarily because of the failures in the commercialization and consumption of jumbo squid. This suggests that efforts should not be concentrated on a single node but should be addressed jointly. Considering that the jumbo squid value chain currently depends on the changing conditions of the fishery, which is marked by production instability, causing uncertainty in the subsequent nodes; the status indicates that a restructuring of the value chain is evident since the market is prone to dismantling or self-regulation over the medium term.