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Lima Chamber of Commerce Alleges Asian Fleets Illegally Harvesting Peruvian Squid, Calls for Immediate Crackdown

The warning centers on opaque offshore operations enabled by weak monitoring.

Overview

  • The CCL’s maritime commission reported that vessels mainly from China and Japan have entered Peru’s 200‑mile zone to catch jumbo flying squid, alleging captures of more than 500,000 metric tons a year.
  • The group said the catch is processed and transshipped on the high seas without taxes, foreign‑exchange contributions, or local employment, while Peruvian artisanal fishers face restrictions.
  • Citing the absence of an effective national monitoring and enforcement system, the commission described the foreign operations as opaque and hard to track.
  • The CCL urged seizures of vessels found fishing illegally, a halt to fuel and logistical support, expanded operating areas for artisanal boats, and stronger satellite surveillance.
  • It called on the Foreign Ministry to issue a diplomatic protest, noting Chile and Argentina penalize and impound similar ships, and no official Peruvian response was reported at the time of publication.