According to official figures, the Peruvian fleet’s landings of squid totalled 476,500 tonnes in the first half of this year, making this fishery second only to the anchovy fishery in terms of economic importance as catches have risen by 150%.
Squid landings are concentrated in Paita, where 359,700 tonnes have been discharged, accounting for 75% of the country’s fishery this year.
94.8% of the squid landed is processed as frozen production for export, while 5.2% finds it way to domestic markets as fresh production – with prices around 16.5% lower than last year, making this an increasingly attractive prospect for consumers.
The squid fishery is playing an increasingly important role in the supply of raw material to processors, especially in the northern part of Peru. Between January and June this year, the squid sector accounted for 13.4% of the fishing sector’s volumes, making this the second most important fishery after anchovy.
More than 3000 artisanal fishing vessels participate in the squid fishery, generating more than 9000 direct and 24,000 indirect jobs throughout the production and marketing chain.
