Understanding Indonesia’s Fisheries Regulations and Quota Systems

A practical, bench-tested guide to choosing squid species and tube grades, dialing in ring width, predicting rings per kilogram, and avoiding the seven headaches that make calamari programs inconsistent and costly.

If you buy calamari for frying, you’ve probably fought the same battle we have. One week your rings are perfectly tender. The next they’re chewy with a wild ring diameter spread that wrecks your portion cost. We tightened ring diameter consistency to 95% and kept portion cost variance within ±5% across multiple facilities by focusing on three pillars: species, tube grade, and cut spec. Here’s the same system we share with quality‑conscious buyers.

The 3 pillars of consistent, tender calamari

1. Choose the right species for your target texture and ring size

• Loligo (market name: squid). Typically more tender and sweeter. Smaller tubes deliver tighter ring diameter bands. Best for light, crispy fried calamari.
• Illex (market name: squid). Grows larger with a firmer chew. Rings are bigger and meatier but can turn rubbery if overcooked.
• Cuttlefish. Thick mantle, broad rings or strips, great for grill or robust batters. Texture is firmer than Loligo.

In our experience, when the brief says “classic fried calamari,” 8 out of 10 times the answer is Loligo. If you’re buying Indonesian origin, start by sampling Loligo Squid (Whole Round / Whole Cleaned) in the tube grade that matches your ring target.

2. Lock the tube grade to control ring diameter spread Tube grading isn’t standardized globally. In Indonesia and much of Southeast Asia, “5–8, 8–12, 12–16, 16–20” usually refers to mantle length in centimeters for Whole Cleaned (WC) tubes. Some sellers in other regions use counts per kg. Always confirm the grading basis in writing.

• Practical mapping we use for ring projects:
  • 8–12 cm tubes. Typical ring diameter 18–24 mm after cutting.
  • 12–16 cm tubes. Typical ring diameter 22–30 mm.
  • 16–20 cm tubes. Typical ring diameter 28–36 mm. Because tubes taper, you’ll always get a diameter range along the length. Narrow the range by choosing tighter grades.

3. Specify the cut: ring width and tolerance Ring “thickness” means the width of the band you cut off the tube. For frying, 8–12 mm ring width is the sweet spot. At 10 mm, most kitchens hit tenderness, batter adhesion, and quick fry times.

• For 10 mm rings at 180°C oil, cook 75–110 seconds. Over 120 seconds pushes Illex into chewiness. Loligo is more forgiving but still suffers past 2 minutes.
• Write the tolerance: “10 mm ± 2 mm.” If you don’t, you’ll see 5–15 mm in the same bag.

Takeaway: Decide on species, confirm grading basis, and write a ring width tolerance. That’s most of your consistency solved.

Weeks 1–2: Fast benchtop validation before a bulk PO

Here’s the bench test protocol our team uses with new buyers. It takes one afternoon.

1. Sample 3 tube grades for your target ring diameter.

• If you need ~1‑inch (25 mm) rings, start with 12–16 cm Loligo tubes. Expect 22–30 mm across the tube.
• If you prefer bigger “bistro” rings, test 16–20 cm.

2. Measure ring diameter the simple way.

• Lay the tube flat and measure the lay‑flat width at shoulder, mid, tail. Diameter ≈ 0.637 × lay‑flat width. So a 40 mm lay‑flat width yields ≈ 25 mm rings.
• Cut 10 mm bands at shoulder, mid, tail. Record the diameter range. You want your mid‑section to sit on your menu target.

3. Predict rings per kilogram with a quick count

• Rings per tube ≈ mantle length (mm) divided by ring width (mm). A 140 mm tube cut at 10 mm gives ~14 rings.
• Tubes per kilogram varies by grade and species. For 12–16 cm Loligo WC, expect ~14–18 tubes/kg.
• So rings/kg ≈ 14 rings/tube × 16 tubes/kg = ~224 rings/kg. Realistic range for 10 mm cuts from 12–16 cm Loligo is 190–250 rings/kg. Write your acceptable band in spec.

4. Tenderness fry test

• Fry 8–12 mm rings at 180°C for 90 seconds. Taste Loligo vs Illex side‑by‑side. Score tenderness on a 1–5 scale.
• If Illex is your commercial choice, try 8 mm rings and pull at 75–85 seconds to keep bite pleasant.

Need help setting up the test or want our ring count worksheet? Just Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll share the template we use with foodservice and retail clients.

Weeks 3–6: Pilot run, write the spec, and confirm yields

Run a 200–500 kg pilot. This is where most programs win or fail.

• Cut spec. “Straight cut rings, 10 mm ± 2 mm, trim tails and fins off tubes before cutting.” Bias cuts look bigger but eat tougher and throw off portion cost.
• Rings per kg. Document a minimum/maximum range. Example: “Target 200–240 rings/kg at 10 mm from 12–16 cm Loligo tubes.”
• Portion yield. For a 100 g portion, 10 mm rings from 12–16 cm tubes will plate ~8–12 rings depending on diameter. Write the count guideline for ops teams.
• Species declaration. “Loligo spp” or “Illex spp.” Don’t accept generic “calamari” on spec sheets.
• Pack format. IQF rings hold diameter and de-clump easily. If you’re cutting in your own plant, WC tubes IQF are ideal. See Loligo Squid (Whole Round / Whole Cleaned).

Tubes and tentacles yield note. If you’re buying Whole Round and cleaning in-house, expect ~55–62% tube yield and 12–18% tentacles by weight depending on species and size. Plan your menu to use tentacles or convert them into a value‑add product.

Weeks 7–12: Scale and lock consistency

• AQL checks for ring width. Use a simple 10 mm ring gauge or calipers. Reject lots where more than 10% of rings fall outside ±2 mm.
• Diameter spot checks. Measure 20 rings per batch. Document the shoulder/mid/tail range once per production hour.
• Fry window testing. Every shift, verify tenderness at your oil temperature. Small oil temp dips increase cook time and chewiness, especially on Illex.
• Supplier alignment. Keep the same grade band. Switching between 8–12 and 12–16 mid‑season is the fastest way to lose diameter consistency and portion control.

What’s interesting is that over the last few months we’ve seen more buyers add “rings/kg” as a labeled attribute alongside ring width. That single line item is reducing complaints because everyone sees the same outcome metric.

Common questions buyers ask us

What size squid tubes make 1‑inch calamari rings?

Target 12–16 cm Loligo tubes. Your mid‑section rings will land around 25 mm. Confirm by measuring lay‑flat width ~40 mm at mid‑tube, which translates to ~25 mm diameter after cutting.

How many rings do you get per kilogram of squid?

For 10 mm cuts from 12–16 cm Loligo WC tubes, plan 190–250 rings/kg. From 16–20 cm tubes, expect 150–200 rings/kg. Illex of the same length grade often weighs more per tube, so rings/kg can be lower.

Is Loligo or Illex better for tender fried calamari?

Loligo is our default for tenderness. Illex works for bigger, meatier rings but needs a tighter fry window and often a thinner ring width to stay tender.

Should I buy pre‑cut rings or whole tubes for consistent portions?

If you have reliable labor and a ring gauge, whole tubes give you control and often better economics. If labor is tight or multiple stores must match spec exactly, pre‑cut IQF rings with a written ring width tolerance and rings/kg label deliver the lowest variance.

What ring thickness is best for frying without turning rubbery?

8–12 mm works in most kitchens. We recommend 10 mm ± 2 mm and a 75–110 second fry at 180°C. Drop to 8 mm if using Illex and your fryers run cooler or busier.

Can I use cuttlefish instead of squid for rings?

Yes, but expect a meatier bite. Cuttlefish excels as thicker strips or larger rings for robust batters and grilling. For delicate, quick‑fry appetizers, Loligo still wins on tenderness.

What does the 5–8 squid tube grade mean for yield?

It depends on the packer. In Indonesia/SE Asia, 5–8 typically refers to mantle length in centimeters for cleaned tubes. That produces small rings and high rings/kg. Some suppliers use “5–8” as counts per kg. Always confirm whether the grade is mantle length or counts to avoid surprises in ring size and yield.

The 5 mistakes that quietly wreck calamari programs

1. Vague grading. Ordering “medium tubes” without stating the grading basis. Fix: Specify the grading system and acceptable band.
2. No ring width tolerance. Telling a plant “make rings” with no 10 mm ± 2 mm instruction. Fix: Always write a tolerance.
3. Species swaps. Receiving Illex when you tested Loligo. Fix: Put the species name on the PO and carton.
4. Overfrying. Running 2+ minutes at 180°C. Fix: Calibrate to 75–110 seconds and train on carryover heat.
5. Wide season switches. Jumping from 8–12 to 16–20 tubes because of price. Fix: If you must switch, update menu photos, portion guides, and costings immediately.

Quick reference: choose the right spec for your menu

• Classic appetizer rings, 1‑inch visual. Loligo, 12–16 cm tubes, 10 mm ± 2 mm rings, 190–250 rings/kg, fry 90 seconds at 180°C.
• Bistro‑style larger rings. Loligo or Illex, 16–20 cm tubes, 10 mm rings, 150–200 rings/kg, careful with fry time.
• Hearty strips/large rings for grills. Cuttlefish, 12–20 cm mantle, 12–15 mm strips, higher chew but great flavor.

If you’d like our team to review your current spec and suggest an exact grade and cut based on your menu price point, View our products and share your targets. We can set up a quick sample plan using Indonesian Loligo tubes and align rings/kg to your portion cost before you place a PO.