The Changos octopus (Octopus mimus) is distributed along the Eastern Pacific from Baja California (Mexico) to Central Chile (Cardoso et al. 2004)(Pliego-Cardenas et al. 2020). It is considered the most abundant octopus species in the Peruvian artisanal fishery (Álamo and Valdivieso 1997)(PRODUCE 2015). Samples taken from Paita (Peru) to Cifuncho (Chile) suggest that specimens derive from one homogenous population with low genetic diversity (Pardo-Gandarillas et al. 2018). Besides, Pliego-Cardenas et al. (2020) suggested that Peru should be considered as a management unit in the Eastern Pacific, but the stock structure and the connection with the population in northern Chile are still unclear. No national assessments covering the entire Peruvian coast have been conducted (World Bank 2021), however, regional assessments have been carried out in the Northern (i.e. Lobos de Afuera and Lobos de Tierra islands) (de la Cruz G. et al. 2020)(IMARPE 2020)(Ramírez et al. 2020)(IMARPE 2023) and Southern Peru (i.e. Punta Coles) (PRODUCE 2021).

This fishery is part of a Peruvian artisanal fleet consisting of small-scale vessels for which the target species (typically benthonic invertebrates) may vary over the year (Sauer et al. 2019). The main fishing method is diving (free or hookah), helped by hand implements such as gaffs and supported by an air compressor (Guevara-Carrasco and Bertrand 2017). The most important landing points are Ilo (Moquegua), San Andres (Ica), and Paita (Piura) (PRODUCE 2022).