Illegal shipyards continue to build boats despite ban

The construction of new fishing vessels has been illegal for eight years, according to the Supreme Decree 006-2015 issued by the Ministry of Production (Produce) and on the recommendation of the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), after verifying that the fleet had increased.

The overpopulation of boats generated greater fishing pressure on the resources, in addition to the fact that the time and effort that fishermen used to catch the fish had also increased, which directly affected their income.

Already for 2018, Legislative Decree 1393 was issued, which provided that the places of construction of boats be intervened, as well as the destruction of these and the implements used for this purpose; However, this measure could not be applied because the Public Ministry indicates that, for example, to carry out a lockout, a judicial authorization is required, but this is only granted in the case of a crime and not an administrative infraction, he explains. carmen heckPolicy Director of Oceana Peru.

“The Public Ministry is not using the norm. They say that the judge is not going to authorize a lockdown if it is only an administrative infraction and not a crime. So, illegal construction simply continues as before the issuance of this legislative decree”he specified to The Republic.

The consequences of continuing to build boats are serious, Heck explains, because in 2015 it was shown that the fishing fleet was already too big for what our ecosystem can support. Chimbote, I cry, paita and little foxes They were identified as the most recurring areas of illegal construction, according to the General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guards (Dicapi) in 2017.

The lawyer recalls that the poverty rates of Peruvian artisanal fishermen have increased, in a context in which they make more efforts to capture resources and, despite this, the amount they bring is not enough. “So, that translates into lower income, because the greater effort means more hours of fishing, more gasoline, more time invested,” she pointed out.

It is worth noting that the Peru loses S/1.2 billion a year due to illegal fishingaccording to figures from the Executive Power.

Broad consensus to eradicate them

PL 3413 and 3557 already have the favorable opinion of various public and private entities. Among them are the Institute of the Sea of ​​Peru (Imarpe), the Ministry of the Environment (Minam), the National Police of Peru (PNP) and the National Society of Industries (SNI).

“If the proposal is approved, The Public Ministry will have the legal tools that allow them to carry out investigations corresponding, thus contributing to the fight against illegal activities linked to the fishing sector,” said the Ministry of Production.