Peruvian Government Announces Measures for Industrial Fishing Amid El Niño

The Minister of Production, Juan Carlos Requejo, stated today that, given the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, there is a need to adopt additional measures for industrial fishing, considering that the first anchovy fishing season only reached 20% of the quota and was closed due to the onset of spawning.

"The fishing sector has been suffering the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon since the second quarter of the year, which is why we have promoted 19 reactivation measures for artisanal fishing. But we also have to implement measures for industrial fishing, which has been affected just like artisanal fishing," he explained.

"Industrial fishing had a first north-central season, the most important for anchovy, where only a little over 20% of the quota could be caught, and it has already closed because spawning began. The implementation of the second fishing season is pending, but we will see how the conditions develop to open it because we are in constant evaluation," he added.

During his presentation to the Bicameral Budget Commission of the Congress of the Republic, Juan Carlos Requejo recalled that the Ministry of Production declared an emergency in the fishing and aquaculture sector.

"This impact of the El Niño phenomenon not only requires reactivation measures but also measures to help them, and that is why we have declared an emergency in the fishing and aquaculture sector," he indicated.

"The emergency declaration serves to facilitate differentiated financial treatment, prevent the deterioration of credit ratings, extend deadlines, and provide facilities for debts and fines; additionally, efforts are being made for industrial fishing workers to retain their social security benefits, despite not receiving income since April," he added.

The minister explained that in terms of fishing and aquaculture, the sector has five strategic axes:

1. Base decisions on scientific evidence and reports from the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe)
2. Promote fishing and aquaculture infrastructure
3. Boost fish consumption
4. Strengthen the health and safety of hydrobiological products
5. Implement timely and flexible regulatory management

"Another point to highlight is that we have negotiated with the Ministry of Economy to conduct a national census for artisanal fishing after many years. This is a tool that we have been requesting for a long time, and it is important because we cannot define adequate policies in fishing and aquaculture without this census," he said.