Produce would evaluate reducing the minimum allowed catch size of anchovy

The minimum permitted catch size for anchovy is 12 centimeters, so fishing it below this measurement puts its reproduction and the sustainability of the resource at risk. However, it emerged that the Ministry of Production (Produce) I would be willing to analyze whether it is possible to “update” the size at the request of the National Association of Fishing Shipowners (ANAP) of Law 26920 and the National Fisheries Society (SNP).

Since the 2022 fishing seasons, in the exploratory and second campaign – which has been underway this year since Thursday, October 26 – an abundance of juveniles have been found, which is why Produce implements preventive closures of at least three days to protect the resource .

For this reason, industrial companies consider that this measure is an obstacle to continuing their activities and request the change of the measure, as well as the increase in the percentage allowed for the capture of juveniles, which is established at 10% tolerance.

In this regard, the Fishermen’s Union of Chimbote and Annexes, which brings together industrial fishermen, pointed out in a statement that anchovy is a fundamental part of the marine ecosystem, since it is the food for many other species that are captured for direct consumption. Besides, It plays a crucial role in the generation of employment and the economic development of our country, which is why they are against the decrease in size.

“Reducing the size means fishing for anchovy that has not yet reached sexual maturity, which endangers the reproduction of the species and can lead to unprecedented predation,” the union maintains.

What did Produce say?

After holding several meetings with the wooden fleet of Law 26920, the SNP, the José Olaya Balandra Fishermen’s Union, as well as with the Association of Artisanal Fishing Shipowners of the South (Aapasur), Produce announced that it will create work tables to reach to consensuses that allow the development of fishing activity, prioritizing the care of resources, at the same time that the local economy of the actors involved will be promoted.

“We are talking periodically with the country’s fishermen’s unions, I have personally attended to them and listened. The next step is to open more channels that allow us to jointly find solutions to the anomalous environmental conditions that affect fishing, with responsible and sustainable work, especially within the framework of the law.“said the minister Ana María Choquehuanca.

The head of Produce added that her sector is working with an approach related to the conservation of marine resources, supported by scientific technical reports from the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), in collaboration with fishermen.