Peru’s Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) has officially confirmed it will not authorize a second anchovy season in the country's North-Central zone.
Media in Peru reported last week that a meeting between PRODUCE, the National Fisheries Society (SNP), and the Peruvian Marine Research Institute (IMARPE) suggested that conditions were unfavorable for a second anchovy season, fueling assumptions it would be canceled. Those predictions proved true, as PRODUCE said biological and oceanographic conditions require prioritizing the sustainability of the resource.
“This decision is based on scientific evidence and our responsibility to protect the anchovy,” Peru Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos said in a release. “The high number of juveniles and current sea conditions require us to act prudently to preserve the resource's capacity for renewal. We cannot make decisions thinking only about the short term; we must also safeguard fishing opportunities for the coming years.”
Scientific surveys of the fishery estimated a total biomass of 5.12 million metric tons, 27.9 percent lower than what was recorded in the summer of 2026 and 22.8 percent lower than the average winter-spring acoustic biomass for the period spanning 1996 to 2025. In addition to the lower biomass indicators, juvenile specimens account for 79 percent of the stock by number and 65 percent by weight, with lower reproductive activity than normal.
Oceanographic conditions were the main culprit behind the closure, as IMARPE found warm waters caused by El Niño have changed anchovy distribution and forced schools deeper, making fishing more difficult.
“Protecting the anchovy also means protecting jobs, investment, and the entire production chain linked to this strategic resource for the country,” Barrientos said. “That's why we will continue working with IMARPE to monitor sea conditions and the anchovy population so that management decisions are based on timely scientific evidence.”
The closure of the second anchovy season will heavily impact global fishmeal and fish oil supplies, with IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organization predicting 2026 will see supply drop to near-decade lows. Peru’s fishery makes up as much as 20 percent of the global supply of fishmeal and fish oil.
It will also likely have a heavy impact on Peru’s fishing industry, as the last time Peru was forced to cancel a season it cost an estimated USD 1.4 billion (EUR 1.25 billion).
