Peru closes first anchovy season with more than 98% of quota caught

The Government of Peru is closing today, July 18, the first anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and white anchovy (Anchoa nasus) fishing season of 2024 in the North-Central zone which began last April 16. Landings reached 2,430,589 metric tons (MT), representing 98.21% of the global quota of 2,475,000 MT allocated.

In an event held yesterday on board the Scientific Research Vessel Humboldt, in Callao, Peru's President, Dina Boluarte, and the Minister of Production, Sergio González Guerrero, announced the success of the season which, in terms of export value, is equivalent to a contribution of USD 1.3 billion (EUR 1.1 billion) in foreign currency for the country.

An exemplary season after complicated years

"We gather today to mark the closing of a fishing season that has been exemplary in many ways," said Boluarte. "As President, it is an honor to address you, dear fishermen, fishing companies, and authorities, who allowed the successful development of this first fishing season, after going through very complicated years for the fishing sector due to adverse weather conditions," she noted.

It should be recalled that last year, the second fishing season in the central-north zone of the country - which closed on January 13, 2024 - concluded with an unfulfilled quota. Even with a maximum authorized catch quota of 1,682,000 tons, considerably lower than this year's, the Peruvian fishing fleet managed to land only 75% of it by the end of the season.

On the contrary, this year the positive news has been coming one after the other. In just one month landings reached 60% of the quota, and then the season has been cruising right along month by month reaching important landing volumes that, in turn, have impacted the results not only of the industry - compared to the previous year, Peru's fishing sector grew 158.40% in April and the figure rose to 329.2% in May - but of the entire Peruvian economy.

Dina Boluarte highlighted these figures are important and have an impact on the country’s economy. In May, a growth of 5.04% was reached, a rate that has not been registered since the pre-pandemic stage. "We are facing the year of the country's economic recovery," she said.

12,000 direct and 37,000 indirect jobs throughout the fishing chain

As mentioned, at the closing event of the anchovy fishing season, President Boluarte was accompanied by the head of the Ministry of Production (Produce), Sergio Gonzalez, who arrived at the position a few days before the start of the campaign, in early April, with the aim of promoting fisheries and aquaculture.

"Today we close the first season with positive news because it was a responsible season and constantly monitored by the Ministry of Production," he pointed out. "In addition, we consider that it was a successful season because more than 98% of the allocated quota was caught, which is equivalent to 2,430,000 tons," the Minister added.

Gonzalez detailed that the main ports where landings took place were Malabrigo, Chimbote, Coishco, Callao, Supe, Chancay, and Tambo de Mora; while the main plants that received the fish were TASA (21%), Exalmar (16%), COPEINCA (13%), Diamante (15%) and Hayduk (11%).

To these data, President Boluarte added that the extractive activity demanded 12,000 direct jobs and 37,000 indirect jobs throughout the fishing chain. She also pointed out that a total of 691 fishing vessels - 294 steel and 397 wooden vessels - were involved.

Quotas set after scientific research

Likewise, during the presentation of the results of Peru's first anchovy fishing season of 2024 in the North-Central zone, the head of Produce, Sergio Gonzalez, also recalled that the maximum catch quota limit was confirmed thanks to scientific research conducted by the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe).

The Hydroacoustic evaluation cruise of anchovy and other pelagic resources carried out by the Imarpe in January was in charge of gathering accurate and updated data, based on rigorous scientific evidence. This helped the Government to make an informed decision when setting the quota limit in a way that promotes responsible fishing and the conservation of the country's marine resources.

It is important to recall that the anchovy fishery is of vital importance in the country but it is also important for the aquaculture feed sector at a global level, as Peru accounts for 20% of global fishmeal production in an average year.

As mentioned above, the event took place on board the Scientific Research Vessel Humboldt. Thus, the Peruvian President, Dina Boluarte, took advantage of it to announce that, through a supplementary credit, PEN 9.3 million (EUR 2.2 million / USD 2.4 million) will be allocated for its maintenance. The Humboldt is the main platform for research on Peru's hydrogeological resources.