"The closed season is an important tool for ensuring the sustainability of the resource," said Peru's Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Photo: Produce.
Following the technical and scientific criteria issued by the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) ordered the establishment of a reproductive closed season on jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas) throughout the national maritime area, from October 26 to November 25, 2025.
"The closed season is an important tool for ensuring the sustainability of the resource. Thanks to information from Imarpe, we can establish precise biological rest periods that ensure the continuity of the species and the economic stability of the families that depend on it," said the Peruvian Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jesús Barrientos.
Likewise, Viceminister Barrientos also noted that the provision could be modified if Imarpe observes changes in the reproductive cycle of jumbo flying squid.
"Our commitment is to act with flexibility and technical rigour. If studies show changes in reproductive behaviour, Produce will adopt the necessary scientific recommendations to adjust the closure periods," he explained.
Produce noted that the closed season is intended to protect the species' spawning process and ensure its sustainable use for the benefit of the country's artisanal and industrial fishermen.
It also recalled that, during this period, all extractive activities are prohibited, as well as the transport, processing, marketing, or storage of jumbo flying squid, unless it can be proven that it was extracted before the start of the closure.
The decision comes just days after Produce announced a new increase in jumbo flying squid quota, one of the measures announced by the Peruvian Government following the agreement reached with artisanal fishermen on October 1, to put an end to their protests at the end of September.
In the same announcement, Peru's Ministry of Production also reaffirmed its commitment to continuously monitor foreign vessels to prevent illegal fishing within 200 miles of Peruvian waters; and reported the authorization of 'Operation Jumbo Flying Squid IV', which will take place between November 3 and 7, 2025, to determine the main biological and fishing indicators for jumbo flying squid along the Peruvian coast.
The Operation also has several specific objectives, including estimating resource abundance indices; determining population structure by size; evaluating reproductive aspects such as gonadal maturity, copulation, and sex ratio; analyzing the trophic spectrum; and characterizing the oceanographic conditions of the study area by recording environmental parameters.
Thus, although it will take place within the closed season, during the course of 'Operation Jumbo Flying Squid IV', twenty-five artisanal fishing vessels will carry out fishing operations in the maritime zone between 0 and 100 nautical miles from the Peruvian coast. They will do so in coordination with Imarpe and under strict technical protocols, with the mandatory boarding of scientific observers.
Among the requirements for participation are, for example, having a valid fishing permit for the extraction of the resource, the exclusive use of the squid-jig as a fishing gear, or having an operational satellite tracking system in accordance with current regulations.
"This Operation represents a joint effort between the Government, science, and artisanal fishermen. Our goal is to generate solid scientific information to ensure the sustainability of jumbo flying squid, a resource of enormous economic and social importance for the country," concluded Viceminister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jesús Barrientos.
