Peru's artisanal jumbo flying squid fleet consists of some 4,000 vessels and involves around 14,000 fishermen throughout the country.
Photo: Produce.
Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) has approved new management measures that will allow artisanal fishing for jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) to continue, "under criteria of sustainability and scientific support." The new provisions served to end the crisis sparked by protests from artisanal fishermen over the management of this species.
"We are reaffirming our commitment to artisanal jumbo flying squid fishermen. All decisions made are based on technical and scientific criteria that guarantee the sustainability of the resource and the continuity of work for thousands of families on the Peruvian coast," said Peruvian Minister of Production Sergio González Guerrero, commenting on the announcement.
The measures were adopted following a technical and participatory process that began in Piura, the province most affected by the fishermen's protests at the end of September.
After suspending it on June 30, on August 25, Produce reopened the jumbo flying squid fishery under an extended and differentiated two-stage schedule, new management rules, and an update of the annual quota to 504,000 tons. Just 15 days later, on September 10, the quota allocated for that period had already been caught, prompting Peru's Ministry of Production to issue a new suspension order.
A few days later, on September 25, Produce announced that fishing activities for this species would resume on October 1, 2025, until October 17, with a maximum quota of 40,000 tons, which was part of the total allowable catch (TAC) of 559,804 tons set for 2025.
The quota had been set in accordance with studies by the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), whose research showed that the jumbo flying squid was in the process of rebuilding and recolonizing its historical areas of distribution; therefore, "precautionary management" was recommended to ensure its sustainability.
To protect the peak spawning period, Produce imposed a national reproductive closed season from October 18 to November 17, 2025, during which the extraction, transport, processing, marketing, or storage of jumbo flying squid was prohibited.
Four days later, artisanal fishermen in the Piura region—whose economy is mainly based on this activity—began an indefinite strike demanding changes to both the quota and the closed season.
"We do not agree with quotas or closed seasons. What we want to establish here is a cap, so that each vessel reaches a maximum tonnage, but that this cap is well controlled so that everyone can have work," said Justo Bancayán, a fisherman from Paita, Piura, known for his vision of sustainable development through artisanal fishing, on 'Directo en Directo', a program of the RPP Noticias channel.
Regarding artisanal fishermen's demands, Bancayán added: "Firstly, that a dialogue table be established and that the quota or closed season that has been imposed be lifted; that fishermen be allowed to work in peace; and that a cap be controlled. From there, we will discuss the points that need to be addressed so that we do not have all these problems next year."
"We understand the fishermen's concerns, but we must recall that we are about to enter a scientifically based closed season, which is essential to ensure the reproduction and future of this fishery. If we do not take care of the resource today, next year's income and jobs and those of future generations will be affected," said, for his part, Peruvian Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos.
Through the Viceminister, Produce also called for calm and urged an end to the violent acts that were taking place. According to information from local media such as Infobae or Caretas, the protests by artisanal fishermen had not only paralyzed fishing activity but also caused blockages on some of the country's main roads, particularly affecting the Piura region.
All this was happening amid the crisis of violence that has been rocking Peru for some time and which, a few days after the fishermen's protests, led the country's Congress to remove Dina Boluarte as President and replace her with the President of Congress, José Jerí, who will hold the position until elections are held.
The dialogue table referred to by fisherman Justo Bancayán had begun a few days before the announcement of the closed season, on September 22. Viceminister Barrientos had held a series of working meetings in the capital, Lima, with representatives of the National Society of Industries, as well as trade unions, cooperatives, associations, and Social Organizations of Artisanal Fishermen (OSPAs) to address the situation of the production chain for both jumbo flying squid and perico (mahi-mahi).
A few days later, in a live interview on the program 'Ampliación de Noticias' of the RPP Noticias channel, already during the protests, the Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture insisted that the measures were based on scientific and biological evidence, and that the closed season was imposed because the species was at its reproductive peak.
"We need to have a space where we can take care of this resource. If we don't take care of it, what we can extract now will directly harm this fishery next year and in future generations. And that could lead to a collapse later on," said Barrientos.
"We are in constant dialogue, not only with fishermen, but also with shipowners, marketers, and the industrial plants that process this resource, because 90% of it is exported," added the Viceminister.
In that same interview, he also pointed out that, beyond fishermen, this fishery is important for all of Peru, as it is not only the country's main fishing resource for human consumption, but also an important source of employment.
First working group meeting, held on September 22 in Lima, where Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture met with stakeholders in the jumbo flying squid value chain.
Photo: Produce.
After moving from Lima to Piura, the dialogue table finally bore fruit, and two days after the protests began, Produce and the artisanal jumbo flying squid fishermen reached an agreement. The protest had begun with a demand for six fishing trips to catch squid until the end of the year, and finally, five were authorized.
"Today, it was agreed to lift the fishermen's industrial action after establishing a schedule of five trips until the end of the year: two in October, one at the end of November, and two in December. These trips will be subject to constant evaluation, in which the fishermen will also participate in observation and sampling tasks," explained the head of Produce, Sergio González Guerrero.
According to local media Norte Sostenible, the negotiations were marked by tension. While provinces such as Sechura, La Unión, Talara, and Lambayeque immediately signed the agreement, the city of Paita, in Piura, was reluctant to accept it and maintained its original demand for some time.
Finally, the province complied with the majority consensus, driven by pressure to revive the local economy, which depends on artisanal fishing and its associated value chains.
Following the agreement, Minister González Guerrero also indicated that his ministry, together with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, had decided to set up a permanent working group to address the issue of jumbo flying squid resources at a national level.
Thus, on October 9, Peru approved the announced new management measures for jumbo flying squid, adopted based on evidence from Imarpe and ongoing dialogue with artisanal fishing organizations from across the coast. After a few days' break, the technical and participatory process returned to Piura this Monday.
The Ministry of Production explained that, during authorized fishing operations, fishermen must deliver three uneviscerated jumbo flying squid specimens of different sizes to Imarpe representatives and provide facilities for the embarkation of scientific observers, thereby strengthening research on the status of the species.
Moreover, in accordance with the commitments made during the meeting on October 1, 'Operation Jumbo Flying Squid IV' will be carried out during the second week of November, with the participation of artisanal vessels. Fishermen will also be able to participate in the scientific cruise aboard the Humboldt Scientific Research Vessel.
Produce said that these decisions reaffirm its commitment to protecting the species' reproductive period, which will run from October 26 to November 25, but also added that the new provisions will allow thousands of fishing families to continue their work while important scientific information on the resource's population is collected.
"We are fulfilling the commitments we made to artisanal squid fishermen. The decisions we make are based on scientific evidence and seek to ensure that this fishery continues to generate work, food, and development for thousands of families in the country," said Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos.
It should be noted that jumbo flying squid is Peru's second most important fishery after anchovy, and that its artisanal fleet consists of some 4,000 vessels, involving around 14,000 fishermen throughout the country.
Between January and July 2025, artisanal fishing landings —mainly dedicated to species for direct human consumption—totalled 776,000 tons in Peru, representing an increase of 50.4% compared to the same period in 2024.
With a year-on-year increase of 155.6%, jumbo flying squid was primarily responsible for this growth, even though, as mentioned above, fishing was suspended on June 30 to ensure its sustainability.
"The Ministry of Production will continue to promote responsible management of jumbo flying squid, using a participatory and adaptive approach that combines science, dialogue, and sustainability. This is the way to ensure that artisanal fishing continues to be an engine of national development," concluded Viceminister Barrientos.
