Exploratory fishing reportedly started due to pressure from the flour industry

Despite the technical report of the Institute of the Sea of ​​Peru (Imarpe) that indicates that there was an incidence greater than 80% of anchovies in sizes smaller than those allowed for their capture, the Ministry of Production (Produce) authorized the start of fishing exploration of this resource for 7 days. Fishermen and specialists question this decision, as they point out that it has contributed to the depredation of this resource, which is the main food for most species that coexist in the Peruvian sea. In addition, they indicate that the only beneficiary has been the industry.

industry pressures

Exactly one week before ministerial resolution No. 000191-2023 was published, which authorized exploratory fishing, Produce’s Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Úrsula Desilú León, met with the president of the National Fisheries Society (SNP). , Cayetana Aljovín, according to the entity’s record of visits.

Other participants in the meeting were Fernando Ribaudo Bernales, from Pesquera Diamante; the general manager of Austral Group, Adriana Giudice; and the general manager of Tecnológica de Alimentos SA (TASA); Gonzalo de Romaña King of Castro. These companies are related to the flour trade.

According to this portfolio, the private sector was informed that the conditions to open the first industrial fishing season of 2023 did not yet exist and the recommendation was to continue with the “research work” through exploratory fishing. The union also affirmed that the subject to treat was the “prospects of the season”.

Sectoral sources informed La República that these meetings go beyond being informative meetings.

The questions

According to the general secretary of the Chimbote y Anexos Fishermen’s Union, Lorenzo Vásquez, the SNP seeks by all means: to comply with the delivery of its flour orders that are sold one year in advance.

“The SNP doesn’t mind pillaging the sea in order to fulfill their orders for flour that have already been sold a year before,” said the fishermen’s leader.

Meanwhile, the president of the Chapter of Fisheries Engineering and Aquaculture of the College of Engineers of Peru (CIP), Elmer Nieves, asserted that the flour activity is quite important, since it economically activates cities such as Chimbote, so there is no doubt that there are strong pressures towards Produces.

“The report is saying that there are 82% of juveniles, one automatically thinks, why am I going to issue a resolution authorizing fishing if it does not meet the size? That is contradictory, ”he commented to this medium.

For his part, Oceana Peru biologist Juan Carlos Riveros pointed out that exploratory fishing only makes sense when there are more or less indicators
positive, so he considers that it was “stubborn” to give him the green light. “I think that the Produce specialists who have reviewed the report have not perceived or understood the seriousness of the situation,” he said.

It should be noted that the Imarpe technical report (Official No. 614-2023-IMARPE/PCD) is based on at least 2 biomass studies and the last one was carried out between April 17 and 21 by Operation Eureka LXXIV, while the ministry’s resolution is published about 40 days later, when the anchovy only grows one centimeter per month. The decision of the highest entity does not resist logic.

Exploration or predation?

For the general secretary of the Single Union of Motorists, Officials and Fishermen of Peru (SUMOOP), Alcides Herrera, an exploration with fishing is not pertinent. He suggests that the scientific vessels carry out the monitoring “without preying”, since the norm indicates that juveniles cannot be caught above 10%, “and by doing this, the minister has not only made a serious mistake, but has also committed a criminal offence,” he said.

The general secretary of the Sechura Industrial Fishermen’s Union —of the wooden fleet—, Wilmer Jacinto, also questions that exploration is carried out with an industrial fleet, since juveniles are “devastated”.

“The explorations should be done by Imarpe, but with their own ships,” Tume said.

The head of Produce, Raúl Pérez Reyes, justified that the use of industry vessels is because Imarpe’s “are much larger” and
They have echo sounder emission equipment.

“In the case of exploratory fishing, there is fishing to see specifically what is being observed in the fishing activity,” he explained to La
Republic. He added that in each boat there are Imarpe personnel supervising and monitoring the presence of juveniles to close the areas if necessary.

In this way, the exploration has the endorsement of the authorities and will continue to be used for fishmeal.

Data

Parallel. The first season of 2022 began on May 4 and closed on July 24.

Result. 2.34 million MT were unloaded, that is, 84% of what was assigned by Produce, which was 2.79 million.

The word

Raúl Pérez Reyes, Minister of Production

“Without a doubt, the fact that there is no first season (of industrial fishing) will have an impact on our ability to export flour. Being conservative, it will have an impact of at least 30%.”