Humboldt squid, called diablos rojos or red devils in Mexico, have been known to attack scuba divers and were once a rarity in B.C. waters. But a changing ocean environment has brought them northward, and they may now be permanently establishing themselves off the B.C. coast.

Along the squid's tentacles are some 2,000 suction cups, each circled with dozens of teeth, to drag food to the razor-sharp beak with which it eats.

Growing to more than two metres in length, the squid are known to eat hake and shrimp, both of which are caught commercially in B.C. The squid could potentially begin feeding on young salmon, said federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist Ken Cooke.

"I don't think they stop feeding," Cooke said. "If they are going to become more resident here, then certainly there is a potential for them to be ... a problem for any number of fish species."

Warming ocean water from climate change appears to be the primary reason for the squid's appearance off B.C. Scientists believe that overfishing of predatory tuna, sharks and swordfish may play a role as well. Also, the squid thrive in low-oxygen water, and a low-oxygen-zone of the Pacific has been expanding, possibly from global warming.

Federal fisheries officials have started monitoring the species, Cooke said.

On a research trip last year, fisheries scientists, including Cooke, netted 80 Humboldt squid off the B.C. coast in less than three weeks.

"They have a nasty beak on them," Cooke said. "The ones that I've seen on the deck could easily take your finger off."

Commercial fishermen are catching more and more of the squid off the B.C. coast, he said.

The animals move up and down the water column between 100 and 300 metres below the surface.