The outcome of this campaign will largely determine global fishmeal and fish oil production in the coming months.
Photo: Produce.
Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) has authorized the start of the second fishing Season 2025 for anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) in the north-central zone of the country. Fishing operations will commence at 00:00 hours on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The ministerial resolution announcing the start date of this second season has also set a provisional total allowable catch (TAC) of 500,000 tons for its launch. Produce said that the final TAC will be authorized next week, starting on November 10.
The Ministry emphasized that this measure allows the industrial fishing fleet to complete the registration process for its vessels and to be able to go out fishing efficiently from November 7, while also optimizing the time needed to process the scientific data that the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe) will collect in 'Operation EUREKA LXXVII', which will help to set the final TAC.
The Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jesús Barrientos, emphasized that the authorization of this scientific survey responds to the need for updated information on the oceanographic and biological conditions of anchovy to subsequently make decisions in accordance with Imarpe's recommendations.
"The start of the second season with a provisional quota is a sign of confidence in the recommendations of our scientific research and in the sector's commitment to sustainability, so it is important to verify the spatial redistribution, current oceanographic conditions, and the decline in the reproductive process before making decisions based on the best available evidence, ensuring a balance between the conservation of the marine ecosystem and the continuity of fishing activity," said Barrientos.
Peru's Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture was referring to the latest report from Imarpe, whose data dates from September, which showed that the Peruvian sea has experienced an increase in thermal anomalies (warm and cold Kelvin waves), abnormal fluctuations in the intensity of coastal winds, and the intrusion of subtropical surface waters, which have been more saline since late autumn.
According to Produce, this phenomenon has caused a redistribution of the anchovy from the north-central stock, and as a result of this displacement, the acoustic biomass observed in the north-central zone was lower than the historical winter-spring average.
In contrast, the southern zone has biomass levels 231% above its historical average, which would explain that part of the biomass from the north-central region has moved southward in response to oceanographic changes.
Thus, to supplement this scientific information and define the final management strategy, on the recommendation of Imarpe, the Peruvian Ministry of Production has authorized, as mentioned above, the implementation of 'Operation EUREKA LXXVII', which will take place from November 4 to 6.
The objective of this survey is to collect updated data on oceanographic conditions, resource distribution, size structure, and reproductive process evolution. This information will be crucial in determining the final TAC, especially considering the high environmental variability of the Peruvian sea.
Produce insisted that, based on this scientific evidence, the decision seeks to ensure responsible and sustainable management of the country's most important fishery and one of the pillars of food security, not only in Peru but globally.
For this reason, the ministerial resolution contains conservation and fisheries management measures, including strict conditions for extraction and processing activities.
Finally, Vice Minister Barrientos emphasized that the start of this season is the result of technical and coordinated work between Produce, Imarpe, and the industrial fishing sector, which will make it possible to maintain the productivity of the anchovy resource and protect its biomass.
"The anchovy is an iconic resource in Peru and an economic driver that generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Our responsibility is to ensure that its use remains sustainable and in harmony with nature," the Peruvian Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture pointed out.
It should be remembered that, when this year's first anchovy and white anchovy fishing season for indirect human consumption in the central-north zone of Peru began in April, the then Minister of Production, Sergio González—who was replaced in October by César Manuel Quispe Luján—stressed that the campaign would generate approximately 50,000 direct jobs in the entire extractive fishing industry value chain. According to Deputy Minister Barrientos, this figure would increase to approximately 90,000 if indirect jobs were also taken into account.
The anchovy processing industry for indirect human consumption—that is, for the production of fishmeal and fish oil—is key in Peru, but also beyond its borders, as the South American country has historically accounted for an average of 20% of world production. Thus, although feed producers continue to seek alternative ingredients for their aquafeed formulations, Peruvian anchovy remains critical to the feed industry.