At a meeting with artisanal fishermen, Peru’s vice-minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos has announced an increase in the squid quota to more than 600,000 tonnes, the authorisation of Operation Giant Squid IV, and ratification of permanent monitoring of foreign vessels.
He called on fishermen to work together with the State to improve the management of giant squid fisheries, emphasising that the commitment of all stakeholders is essential to guarantee responsible use of the resource, and urging fishermen to designate representatives to form a technical working group that would facilitate a space for ongoing dialogue, monitoring, and the development of agreed proposals.
The maximum allowable catch for giant (jumbo) squid has been raised to 609,935 tonnes, in accordance with the recommendation of Marine Institute IMARPE), which has reported signs of recovery of the resource following the 2023-2024 El Niño event.
‘This increase is based on scientific evidence and guarantees that squid continues to be a source of livelihood for thousands of families without compromising the sustainability of the resource,’ Jesús Barrientos stated.
He also stated that the ministry has authorizsed the implentation of Operation Giant Squid IV, a scientific research initiative led by IMARPE that will take place 3-7th November, in waters as far as 100 nautical miles off the Peruvian coast. Twenty-five artisanal fishing vessels will participate in this operation, carrying out fishing operations under technical protocols and with mandatory boarding of scientific observers, in coordination with IMARPE.
‘Constant dialogue with fishermen, based on technical and scientific information, allows for responsible decision-making. Operation Giant Squid IV will provide us with updated data to improve fishery management and ensure its future,’ Jesús Barrientos stated, and went on to report that the Ministry of Production, in coordination with the General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guard (DICAPI), is maintaining constant surveillance of foreign vessels to prevent illegal fishing.
He said that to date, no foreign vessels have entered Peruvian waters during 2025, confirming the effectiveness of the control measures implemented since last year.
‘We will continue to protect our sea and the resources that belong to all Peruvians. The fight against illegal fishing is an ongoing task for the State,’ he said.
