Gino Passalacqua: “There is a conflict between the need to fish and the conditions to do so”

The Peruvian scientist Gino Passalacqua spoke with this newspaper about how the anchovy will react quickly to the temperature changes that will occur in the coming weeks, which would have an impact on the development of the second industrial fishing season.

-Were there the conditions to open an exploratory fishing?

-In the last weeks, The intensification of the South Pacific anticyclone has cooled the Peruvian coasts and the conditions have been met so that exploratory fishing can take place. What does worry me is that the thermocline (water layer) is deeper than it should be for this season. It should be between 30 and 40 meters, but I know it is between 60 and 100 meters deep.

-What does this imply?

-Once the South Pacific anticyclone ceases, there must be a seasonal change that causes the anticyclone to withdraw from the Peruvian coast, the wind does not blow so intensely, which produces this cooling, and the conditions have already been met. for Kelvin waves to be generated in the eastern and western Pacific. These are predictions that would occur in October; Kelvin waves arriving at coasts of Peruplus this slightly deeper than normal thermoclimate, would facilitate a rapid change to these surface temperature anomalies, which makes it difficult for anchovies to be found.

-So, in a few weeks we will have warmer waters?

-Yes anyway. Over a week or two, this is quite variable. The anchovy is quite sensitive to ocean changes and fishing pressure. So there are the conditions for the resource to react quickly to this warming.

-The authorization for exploration has little detail, quota, areas. What did you think?

-I think that There is a conflict between the need to fish in the entire sector and the regulatory entity that is Produce, and in trying to facilitate certain conditions for fishing to occur.

-What are the climatic conditions for the first part of 2024?

-The anomalies of temperature They will increase once we change the season and all predictions indicate that November, December, January, February and March will be seriously affected by positive anomalies; There is no way around that. There begins to be a cooling at the end of March or April, and that would indicate that conditions would be favorable for anchovy fishing.

-Is climate change affecting anchovy?

-There are changes in the salinity and pH of the ocean; This affects phytoplankton and zooplankton (anchovy’s main food). So, it seems that there is a change in the anchovy diet, causing a decrease in fat content, which has an effect on the production of fishmeal and fish oil. It is a topic that I have seen in recent weeks that should be explored further, but this is the trend that is being noticed and Both the public and private sectors must start investing more in research.

-What would be the impact of El Niño on artisanal fishing?

-There are other species that can also be used when El Niño appears. It all depends on whether the artisanal shipowner has the economic capacity to change gear and whether the permit legislation is more or less dynamic so that fishing for these resources that appear is authorized.

-What resources could be more available?

-Shrimp, mahi mahi, tuna, yellowfin tuna, bonito, among others.

-Will there be abnormal waves like at the beginning of the year?

-At this moment there is a quite energetic swell on the way to the coast of Peru; These types of waves are generally made in the months of December, January and February, but we are starting earlier. So, we must take into account that there will be several days in which, for security reasons, the doors will be closed. ports and I hope that appropriate measures will be taken to minimize the impact on our coastal structure and the boats.