-Why was Law 31740 created?
-Although the industrial fleet had the 5-mile exclusion, the new law reflects the concern of artisanal fishermen along the coast regarding the need to reclassify their fleet, which until now has only two categories: industrial and artisanal. which is insufficient since in the latter there is a segment of vessels that, due to their characteristics, are different. We are mainly talking about purse seine nets, which collect the nets in a mechanized way. Then, Law 31749 adds a third category and is industrial, medium (smaller scale) and artisanal. Thus, it establishes the restriction of the use of purse seine nets within 3 miles to reduce the impact on fishing resources where many species mix and other types of gear operate.
-What would another modification imply?
-Modifying the law, still unregulated, as proposed in these two PLs is basically returning to the previous situation, where fences continue to be artisanal and there is no 3-mile restriction. From the point of view of resource protection, it is a setback.
-Why do you resist leaving the 3 miles?
-Obviously, going fishing outside of 3 miles generates higher costs. But it also promotes greater sustainability for everyone in the long term and the State could support, in a certain sense, the transition of this semi-industrial fleet with the installation of satellite systems, exemption from payments of fishing rights, among others, so that they can have more options.
-How does purse seine fishing impact this area?
-It is an area of refuge for juveniles and reproduction of species, different from if it were mile 10 or 15. It concentrates the presence of access algae, ideal temperature, depth – which significantly reduces the number of predators -, among others. . Even for species that are not specifically coastal, such as anchovy, which comes closer during the spawning phases. Purse seine and trawl vessels have very little selectivity. When fishing in these different environmental conditions, they capture species that are not their target.
-Incidences increase.
-The second impact is that near the coast there is less depth and, in certain circumstances – not in all -, when the purse seine or trawl is taken off, it rubs against the seabed and this friction disturbs benthic life. And a third impact is that it interferes with vessels that do use selective gear. If there is already a level of conflict with informal workers, the more vessels there are, the greater the conflict will be and the impact on fishing resources will be worse.
-Where are they concentrated?
-Drag only exists in Piura and Tumbes, there is none in other regions. But the fences are numerous and they are the ones that are now considered smaller scale in the current law and seek to return to being artisanal. The strength in particular is in Sechura, Chimbote, and to a lesser extent Pisco and Ilo.
Source: Larepublica
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