Several options are suggested to managers: status quo, active development of the fishery (with associated assessment and management frameworks), effort limitation, or complete closure of the fishery in the absence of assessment and management frameworks. [...] The objectives of the paper are: 1. To gather and synthesize all available published information on the biology, behaviour and ecology of loliginid squids, particularly L. opalescens; 2. To critically review available information on British Columbia opal squid fisheries; 3. To review assessment and management of fisheries for loliginid squid in general, and L. opalescens in particular, elsewhere i [...] The opal squid is one of 30-40 species of squid in the family Loliginidae (Nesis 1982; Boyle and Boletsky 1996)(Figure 3) and one of 21 species of squid known from B. C. waters (Table 1). [...] In pre-spawning mature males the weight of the reproductive organs constitutes 10 to 12% of the total body weight of small males (80-110 mm ML) and between 4.5 and 7% of the body weight of larger average spawning size (150 mm ML) males (Fields 1965; Hixon 1983). [...] The vas deferens is white and clearly visible on the posterior as well as the anterior part of the dorsal side of the spermatophoric complex.