December 21, 2006

Peru's 2006 anchovy catch seen down 41 percent on-year

Peru's anchovy catch could end the year at around 6 million tonnes, down 41 percent from last year, Deputy Production Minister Alfonso Miranda said Wednesday.

In 2005, the anchovy haul totaled 8.5 million tonnes.

Peru is the world's largest producer and exporter of fishmeal, which is made from anchovy.

Peru regularly imposes bans on anchovy fishing to protect anchovy stock and allow it to re-generate. The fishmeal industry is vital to Peru's economy.