Peru closes second anchovy season at 88 percent of quota

Peru’s Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) has called a close to the second season of anchovy fishing in the North-Central zone, with 88 percent of the 2.78 million-metric-ton (MT) quota filled, the ministry announced on its website.

During the season, a total of 2.44 million MT were landed, mainly in the ports Malabrigo, Chimbote, Coischo, Callao, Supe, Bayoyar, Paracas (Pisco), Tambo de Mora, Vegueta, and Chancay, PRODUCE said.

This decision to halt the anchovy fishing season was made following recommendations of the Peruvian Sea Institute, Imarpe, as stock was set to enter the spawning process during the fourth week of January. Imarpe is a specialized technical agency of PRODUCE that advises the state on marine conservation issues and 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.

The season was launched on 12 November last year, after the first season closed on 15 August in what industry experts considered a successful showing, approaching 100 percent of the 2.41 million MT quota established by PRODUCE. The latest catch limit of 2.78 million MT was 15.3 percent higher than that established in the previous season, but actual landings ended up just 1 percent higher than the previous season.

The country divides its anchovy fishing areas into two regions – south and north-central – with different capture limits and seasons set for each one. The north-central is Peru’s main fishing region, with capture measuring roughly six times that of the south region. 

Photo courtesy of Peru anchoveta Sociedad Nacional de Pesqueria

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