One of the world’s largest fishing nations has seen an unusual year in 2023 for its fishing industry. Climatic conditions severely affected the huge anchoveta fishery, but appears to have boosted a substantial squid fishery to new levels.
According to Minister of Production Ana María Choquehuanca, the opportunity was taken to open the second anchoveta season in the later part of the year.
‘This is allowing fishing to make a recovery. In addition, squid reached a historical record with a quota close to 600,000 tonnes, providing work for thousands of fishermen and reinvigorating the market,’ she said, commenting that the Ministry was in contact with numerous artisanal fishing associations and encouraged a dialogue with them.
‘Artisanal fishing has many associations, from Tumbes to Tacna, with different problems. What we did was open the doors of the Ministry to them and welcome a dialogue. On the other hand, we are also working with aquaculture producers inland to promote paiche route, and see possibilities with other resources such as gamitana and doncella,’ she said.
‘The Government is making intense efforts to safeguard and protect people’s livelihoods and mitigate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. Every Tuesday we have meetings at the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) to coordinate joint actions.’
The Minister stated that is in charge of the Arequipa region, which is why she has met with the regional governor of the area so that information can be transferred to local governments regarding the situation in the south, which is different from what happens in the north, because the problems are not due to rain – but rather due to a scarcity of water.
