June 25, 2005

Peru to allow anchovy fishing in banned area

Peru will be reopening the fishing season for anchovy fishing on June 23 for three days in an area from the northern border to 1600 degrees south. The government had put in place a temporary ban there from June 8 in order to protect stocks after opening an exploratory fishing season in late April.

Peru's anchovy haul, used to make fishmeal, rose to 8.59 million tonnes in 2004, a 61 percent increase from the 5.34 million tonnes a year earlier.

Peru is the world's largest producer and exporter of fishmeal, made mainly from anchovy and used chiefly as an animal feed. Bans are imposed and lifted to protect the stock based on findings from the scientific research agency, Imarpe.