Overview
- Produce declined to authorize a second industrial anchoveta season for the north‑central coast on October 16, 2026, citing a scientific evaluation by the Instituto del Mar del Perú (Imarpe).
- Imarpe’s Crucero Científico 2609-10, with data to October 7, 2026, estimated acoustic biomass at about 5.12 million tonnes and found 79% juveniles by number and 65% by weight along with reduced reproductive activity and anomalously warm ocean conditions that have shifted anchoveta distribution.
- The Sociedad Nacional de Pesquería warned the suspension could leave industrial operations effectively halted into 2027 and urged the government to grant liquidity, financing for armadores and protections for crew health to avoid mass job and supply‑chain impacts.
- Produce, Imarpe and the SNP signed a cooperation agreement to boost Imarpe’s research capacity by granting access to industrial vessels, acoustic equipment and logistics, and officials said monitoring of biomass, size and reproduction will guide any future reopening or targeted use of warm‑water species such as samasa.
- The decision follows a first 2026 season that captured only 24.61% of its authorized quota and was exempted from quota‑fulfillment rules by RM N.° 00306-2026-PRODUCE, and it risks broad effects on processing, transport and coastal employment if scientific indicators do not improve.