Peru's Ministry of Production provided support to facilitate the maintenance and docking of the 'Humboldt' at the shipyard of the Industrial Services of the Peruvian Navy prior to start this cruise.
Photo: Produce.
The Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) 'Humboldt' set sail from the port of Callao, Peru, to continue the research cruise on the jumbo flying squid resource - also known as Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas).
The vessel, which will cover the southern area of the Peruvian sea from 20 to 190 nautical miles, joins the BIC 'José Olaya Balandra', which has been carrying out a similar activity in the north of the country since mid-January, after having previously done so in the central area during the month of December.
All this within the framework of the research carried out by the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), a body attached to Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce), which results will contribute to the analysis of fishing projections for this species for 2025 and its fisheries management measures.
As the head of Produce, Sergio González, pointed out when the BIC 'José Olaya Balandra' set sail last month to explore the central zone, "Evaluating the status of the jumbo flying squid will allow us to make important informed decisions for the responsible management of this important hydrobiological resource, always taking care of marine ecosystems."
Peru's Vice-Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jesús Barrientos, pronounced himself in the same vein at the beginning of January, when the BIC 'José Olaya Balandra' started its cruise in the northern area. "This research is key to guarantee the sustainability of the jumbo flying squid, a fundamental resource for the country's artisanal and industrial fisheries," he said.
"The data we obtain will allow us to make informed decisions that promote the conservation and responsible use of our marine resources, to the benefit of thousands of families who depend on this activity," Barrientos added.
This research activity carried out by Produce through Imarpe has a multidisciplinary approach, involving scientists and technical personnel specialized in biology, acoustics, fishing, oceanography and genetics.
The objective is to estimate abundance rates of the jumbo flying squid from acoustic information and fishing gear; as well as to determine its distribution, concentration, population structure, biological status and interrelationships with the marine environment, and genetic variability along its latitudinal and longitudinal distribution in the study area.
Following the anchovy - which has just closed its second season with more than 95% of the allocated quota caught, generating USD 1.4 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) in exports for the country -, the jumbo flying squid's is the second most important commercial fishery in Peru.
Moreover, as recalled by Vice-Minister Barrientos and now highlighted by Produce, this fishery is the first developed by the artisanal fleet and destined for direct human consumption, with the main landing points being the ports of Paita and Parachique in Piura on the northern coast, Matarani in Arequipa on the southern coast, and Chimbote in Ancash, as well as Pucusana in Lima on the central coast of Peru.
Last year, jumbo flying squid catches were affected by a strong El Niño phenomenon that lasted from February 2023 to March 2024. According to Imarpe, the climatic phenomenon caused the population of the species to disperse from the fall of 2023, which has affected the catch rates of the Peruvian artisanal fleet.
By 2025, according to the latest EFEN - National Study of the El Niño Phenomenon - issued in mid-December 2024, its availability is expected to progressively improve, reaching levels similar to those prior to the 2023-2024 El Niño, provided that biological and oceanographic indicators remain at conditions similar to current ones.
