The news of an increase in the Peruvian anchovy quota for the second fishing season starting in November has been welcomed by the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization.
The Peruvian Ministry of Production to announce that the industrial anchovy fishing quota for the north-central fishing area will be 2.3 million metric tons (MT) for the November 2013 to January 2014 fishing season.
The 2.3 million MT is 12 percent higher than that for the first season of 2013 and more than 180 percent higher than the 810,000 MT for the equivalent 2012 season.
The new quota brings the fishery back into historically normal quota ranges after the 68 percent quota reduction imposed for last year’s second season.
Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Paul Phumpiu, said the new quotas was a responsible quota intended to ensure the recovery of the biomass of the pelagic resource, established on the basis of a series of recommendations from the Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE). Its latest survey determined the biomass at 10.3 million MT in the north-central area and 1.87 million MT in the southern zone.
In addition, the government indicated that the anchovy capture season in the south area of Peru will have a quota of 430,000 MT, following 400,000 MT for the first season of 2013, and will run from late October until March 2014. Total annual quotas for this zone have remained around 700,000 MT to 850,000 MT for the whole year for several years.
“We are very pleased to hear of increased quota based on sound science from IMARPE and the precautionary approach. The Government has also announced that surveillance systems will be strengthened on landings, discards, juvenile catch, by catch of other species and the anchovy reproductive process,” said Andrew Mallison, IFFO director general. “It looks very much like the newly announced quotas are more in keeping with traditional historical figures and reflect the success of the emphasis on the long-term sustainability of this important marine resource.”
