President of Peru, Dina Boluarte (center), and Minister of Production, Sergio González (second from left) attended the first landing of this second anchovy season at the Exalmar fishing processing plant in Callao.
Photo: Produce.
The beginning of November also marked the start of the second anchovy fishing season in north-central Peru. As the Peruvian Ministry of Production (Produce) announced, the quota set for this second season is 2.51 million tons. Produce remarked this is the third-highest quota in the last decade and recalled it was set after a rigorous scientific evaluation by the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe).
This was also emphasized by the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte. To reaffirm the Peruvian Government's commitment to work together with the private sector and coastal communities to promote fishing that contributes to the country's sustainable development, she and the Minister of Production, Sergio González, were present at the first landing of this second anchovy season at the Exalmar fishing plant in Callao.
"Following Imarpe's scientific recommendations, we started this season with great expectations, ensuring responsible fishing that respects the balance of our marine ecosystem. Thanks to these practices, our country has been recognized as one of the best-managed fisheries worldwide, an achievement that fills us with pride and responsibility," said the President of Peru.
Likewise, President Boluarte underscored what this second anchovy fishing season means for the country economically and socially. "Not only does it contribute significantly to our economy, but it also strengthens employment and the welfare of thousands of Peruvian families. This results from management prioritizing sustainability and the needs of all Peruvians," she said.
Anchovy fishing is a crucial activity for Peru's economic development. This second season is expected to generate an impact of 0.8% in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024 and contribute 8% to national exports.
As highlighted by the Minister of Production, this second season will allow for significant growth in the indirect human consumption fishing sector during November, December 2024, and January and February 2025.
Sergio González announced that estimates project foreign exchange earnings of approximately USD 1,349 million (EUR 1,265 million), consolidating the role of the fishing sector as a fundamental pillar of the country's economy.
"In terms of exports, we expect a contribution equivalent to USD 1,349 million in foreign exchange for the country, but additionally it means ensuring the employment of more than 49,000 jobs throughout the extractive fishing activity chain," he said.
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Production, around 700 authorized fishing vessels are expected to participate, which, it assured, will contribute to a constant flow of income at the local level. Being a highly decentralized activity, it will boost coastal economies, generating income, employment, and foreign exchange in the different regions of the Peruvian coast.
As highlighted by Minister González, this second anchovy fishing season will have a significant impact on employment, with more than 49,000 workers benefiting from direct and indirect jobs throughout the production chain. The Peruvian Government said this figure is a reflection of its commitment to creating jobs and improving Peruvians' quality of life.
President Boluarte also emphasized it. "With this fishing season, we are not only strengthening the industry but also impacting the Peruvian families that depend on this activity. Each ton of anchovy represents an opportunity for thousands of Peruvians to prosper and get ahead," she stated.
According to Produce's forecasts, the production derived from this season will allow reaching more than 689,000 metric tons of fishmeal and fish oil, with the international market as the main destination. This production will be added to that already achieved in the first anchovy season of this year, which boosted the global increase in fishmeal production.
Between January and July 2024, cumulative fishmeal production increased by almost 36% compared to the same period in 2023, according to statistics from the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization (IFFO). The upward trend extended to fish oil production, which experienced an overall increase of around 10% year-on-year to July 2024.
