Produce expects the fisheries sector to contribute USD 1.2 billion (EUR 1.15 billion) in 2024, representing 0.8% of Peru's national GDP.
Photo: Produce.
Fishery landings totaled 5.8 million tons last year in Peru. According to the Peruvian Ministry of Production (Produce), this figure represents an expansion of 62.6% compared to the 3.6 million tons recorded in 2023.
"Undoubtedly, the good anchovy fishing seasons had an influence on the result," said the head of Produce, Sergio González, commenting on these positive results.
The first anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) fishing season 2024 in the north-central zone began in mid-April and closed three months later, in mid-July. In that time, landings reached 2,430,589 metric tons (MT), representing 98.21% of the global quota of 2,475,000 MT allocated.
The second closed on January 23 to protect the spawning stock. At closing, 95% of the allocated quota - set at 2.51 million tons - had been exceeded, meaning more than 2.38 million tons were caught. According to the Peruvian Ministry of Production, this was the highest level of second-season catches in the last decade, generating USD 1.4 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) in exports.
It is worth remembering that Peru's anchovy fishery is one of the main sources in the production of fishmeal and fish oil used in animal and human nutrition. Historically, it has accounted for an average of 20% of world production and, according to the latest data obtained by IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organisation, in 2024, the country's high fishing activity compensated for global fishmeal production.
Now, taking stock of the year, Produce announced that the GDP of the fishing sector recovered during 2024 and experienced a remarkable growth of 24.9% over the previous year, driven mainly by this increase in the anchovy catch for indirect human consumption.
Specifically, in 2024, fishery landings for indirect human consumption presented a significant increase of 134.1%, reaching 4.64 million tons of anchovy, higher by 2.66 million MT compared to the 1.98 million MT recorded in 2023.
"This result was favored by the higher anchovy fishing registered in the north-central and southern zone," insisted Minister González. "Among the main ports that stood out in total fishing for indirect human consumption we have Chimbote, Malabrigo, Coishco, and Callao," he added.
Regarding fishing for direct human consumption, Produce said that, although the result was negative, this trend was partially attenuated by the increase in the extraction of other resources, such as fan shell, which rose 174.9%; anchovy, with a rise of 43.2%; and bonito, which had an increase of 8.1%.
With these results, the Peruvian Ministry of Production forecasts that, in 2024, the fisheries sector will contribute PEN 4.48 billion (USD 1.20 billion /EUR 1.15 billion) from the extractive and processing side, providing 0.8% to Peru's national GDP.
