The Peruvian anchovy fishery is crucial not only for the country's fishing GDP, but also for global fishmeal and fish oil production.
Photo: Produce.
After registering growth of 33.7% in June, Peru's fishing GDP rose even further in July, thanks again to anchovy catches for indirect human consumption, that is, anchovies used for the production of fishmeal and fish oil.
Including both the extractive and processing sectors, Peru's fishing industry contributed PEN 285 million (EUR 68.96 million / USD 80.46 million), equivalent to 0.6% of the national GDP, according to data provided by the Peruvian Ministry of Production (Produce).
Its head, Sergio González Guerrero, also pointed out that the total volume of fish landed reached 369,200 tons in the seventh month of the year, representing a significant increase of 97.7% compared to July 2024, when 186,700 tons were recorded.
"This result was mainly due to increased anchovy fishing for indirect human consumption in the north-central zone, which was carried out smoothly and responsibly," said Minister González regarding the first anchovy fishing season 2025 in Peru's north-central zone, which was concluded by Produce on July 24.
Following scientific advice from the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe), the decision to cancel the season was taken to protect spawning and juvenile stocks, even though the total quota of 3,000,000 tons had not yet been reached.
Despite this cancellation meant one week less of fishing activity in the month, according to data provided by Produce, anchovy landings for indirect human consumption reached a total of 292,100 tons in July. This amount represented an increase of 645.2% compared to July 2024, when they reached 39,200 tons.
Peru's Ministry of Production said that behind this growth is the increased extractive activity recorded in the north-central region, highlighting the ports of Malabrigo with 31.2% of landings, Callao with 16.4%, Tambo de Mora with 13.1%, Paracas with 8.0%, and Chimbote with 7.5%. Thus, overall, anchovies accounted for 76.1% of the total catch for indirect human consumption.
At the end of July, during her speech to the nation on the occasion of its National Holidays, the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte, claimed that the country will achieve 5.4% GDP growth in the sector by the end of 2025, and that this growth will be driven mainly by this species.
In the same speech, Boluarte emphasized that both fisheries and aquaculture are key to Peru's economic growth. However, the former is especially important, and within the fishing activity, anchovy fishery is crucial not only for Peru's fishing GDP, but also for global fishmeal and fish oil production, as the South American country has historically accounted for an average of 20% of global production.
Thus, IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organisation highlighted in its latest report that the aforementioned cancellation of the first anchovy fishing season 2025 in north-central Peru is something to keep in mind for production results in the coming months.
Finally, regarding the landing of fishery products intended for direct human consumption, Produce reported that it registered 77,100 tons in July.
The most notable species at the start of the second half of the year regarding increased catches were skipjack tuna, with a 92.1% increase in landings; bonito, with a 22.1% increase; and prawn, which increased by 12.3%.
Due to their importance for the country's food security, the Peruvian Ministry of Production is increasingly emphasizing species for direct human consumption. Thus, always advised by Imarpe, Produce is setting quotas and measures to ensure their exploitation in an orderly, sustainable, and equitable manner.
Therefore, at the end of August, it established catch quotas for mackerel (9,600 tons), jack mackerel (28,000 tons), and bonito (19,000 tons) for the period beginning yesterday, September 1, until December 31, 2025.
With sustainability at the heart of its decision, in addition to setting fishing quotas, Produce also established various management, control, and traceability mechanisms to protect resources and benefit thousands of artisanal and industrial fishers.