Peru’s Production Ministry (PRODUCE) has kicked off the anchovy fishing season for the north-central region and established a capture limit of 2.78 million metric tons (MT), 15.3 percent higher than the last season, when the limit reached 2.41 million MT, according to figures from the ministry.
Authorization for anchovy fishing operations in the region was granted from 12 November. Peru’s Sea Institute (Imarpe) – a specialized technical agency of PRODUCE that advises the state on marine conservation issues – is in charge of inspecting and controlling landings. Permitted fishing vessels are assigned a maximum catch limit and any vessel found surpassing that limit will have its extractive activities suspended, and owners may face administrative or criminal repercussions.
All vessels must contain tracking devices and permanently emit satellite positioning signals via the satellite tracking system, Sisesat, PRODUCE said. Likewise, in an effort to conserve the anchovy resource, fishing activities are to be suspended for a minimum of three consecutive days if juvenile specimens surpass 10 percent of the daily landings from a certain port.
At the same time, if any of the anchovy fishing fleet workers develop a fever and present evidence of symptoms of COVID-19, the company must immediately inform PRODUCE’s General Directorate of Supervision, Inspection, and Sanction, a division of the Vice-Ministerial Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The last north-central region anchovy fishing season came to a close on 15 August with what industry experts considered a successful season, approaching 100 percent of the 2.41 million MT capture limit established by PRODUCE.
The country divides its anchovy fishing areas into two regions – south and north-central, with different capture limits and seasons set for each one. PRODUCE launched the anchovy fishing season for the south region in August, establishing a capture limit of 435,000 MT, which is expected to run through the end of the year.
Photo courtesy of Sociedad Nacional de Pesquería
