April 10, 2012

 

 

Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) had commenced the opening of the first anchovy and longnose anchovy fishing season in the Peruvian coast.

 

According to the Ministerial Resolution 162-2012, the measure applies in the area between the north end of the maritime zone of Peru and 16° 00' South Latitude.

 

The fishing season for both resources pertains to the period between April and July, 2012.

 

The capture will end as soon as the maximum total allowable catch (MTAC) is reached or, alternatively, it will not continue beyond July 31 this year.

 

However, the fishing closure date may be extended or reduced given the environmental biological conditions.

 

The MTAC of the north-central area for indirect human consumption will be 2.7 million tonnes of anchovy.

 

Produce also determined that it is prohibited to capture and process specimens of both pelagic species with a size that is inferior to 12 inches in total length. A maximum tolerance of up to 10%, expressed in number of anchovies, will be allowed.

 

Meanwhile, the tolerance percentage of bycatch of other resources during anchovy catch is 5% of the landed resources per boat, expressed in weight measurement.

 

In addition, Produce determined that ship owners will have to take the necessary steps to fulfil the worker shift system, which must be fair, objective and equitable.

 

Fishermen should use purse seines with a minimum mesh size of half inch (13 millimetres).

 

According to the statistics of Produce, in January 2012 a volume of 253,100 tonnes of anchovy was fished, that is to say, 38.3% less than in the same month of 2011 (410,200 tonnes).