RECOMMENDATIONS
Last updated on 25 May 2017
Recommendations to Retailers & Supply Chain
- Advocate for the development of annual stock assessments that incorporate improved catch data and consider the effects of environmental variability on the population. Stock assessment results should be peer reviewed and publically reported.
- Request the government of Peru to develop a long-term management plan for the fishery with an explicit harvest strategy and reference points that take into account the key role of anchoveta in the ecosystem.
- Work with scientists and managers to improve reporting of catches and discards, as well as interactions with habitats and all types of bycatch.
Last updated on 16 August 2017
The Marine Research Institute of Peru (IMARPE) is the scientific institution responsible for the monitoring of fisheries and stock assessments in Peru. Before 2010, stock assessments were carried out using virtual population analysis (Díaz, 2009). The most recent modeled stock assessments publicly available are exploratory models published after a peer review by an international panel of experts (IMARPE, 2010b). Since then, stock status is assessed based on real-time monitoring; which consists on direct biomass estimates and distribution from acoustic surveys prior each fishing season, and monitoring of oceanographic conditions, samplings for size structure and reproductive and somatic conditions, before and during fishing seasons, to account for the rapid fluctuations in the natural biomass of this resource (e.g. EUR-OCEANS, 2008; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017).
Since 2015, IMARPE improved reporting on the monitoring of the anchoveta resource, publishing protocols and presenting more details on the methodology for estimating biomass and catch recommendations in technical reports (IMARPE, 2015d; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2017).
An external technical audit by FAO recommended the use of a stock assessment model to compare stock status with direct biomass estimates (FAO, 2014). IMARPE applied a population balance model for the period 1997-2105 and concluded that direct biomass estimates may be insufficient during abnormal environmental conditions, when anchoveta are at greater depths and become less detectable using the traditionally applied acoustic method (IMARPE, 2015c,d). However, no other stock assessment model has been applied since then. Instead, survey frequency and intensity has been increased with support from the industry (e.g. IMARPE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
IMARPE gives out the catch advice following a protocol (IMARPE 2016) before each fishing season based on hydroacoustic surveys and also recommends actions through real-time monitoring of oceanographic conditions, size structure and reproductive conditions of anchoveta during the fishing season (IMARPE 2016). An external technical audit by FAO recommended the use of a stock assessment model to determine the stock status and provide alternative approaches to calculate the advised quota (FAO, 2014).
Since 2015, IMARPE does not provide an explicit catch advice, instead it presents alternative catch levels from projections based on different environmental scenarios, exploitation rates and remnant biomass (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 or 6.0 million tonnes expected at the next spawning season) (IMARPE, 2015d; IMARPE 2016). For the 2017 first fishing season, catch advice is 2.8 million tonnes, based on expected neutral to favorable environmental conditions, target harvest rate (=0.35) and a target range for remnant biomass of 6 million tonnes. IMARPE highlights the importance of protecting the juvenile fraction of the stock (IMARPE 2017).
A specific quota for the artisanal component of the anchoveta fishery was set in 2017 for the first time in the history of the fishery; but there is no evidence that the quota is supported by a clear scientific recommendation (PRODUCE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Considering 40 years of observations, the range of remnant spawning stock biomass for the next spawning event is between 4 and 6 million tonnes (IMARPE, 2014a). Target exploitation rate is 0.35, the historical average level (IMARPE 2016).
Several authors and most recently, Hervás and Medley (2016) have raised concerns about the justification of the thresholds used by IMARPE in relation to the impact on predators and the need to analyze if these reference points are sufficient, taken also into account the role of anchoveta in the ecosystem. Recommendations have been included in a fishery improvement project that will be undertaken within the next year (SNP and CeDePesca 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Total biomass was estimated at 7.78 million tonnes in last research survey, conducted between March-April 2017, with a spawning stock biomass of 4.43 million tonnes, above the limit biomass reference point but below the optimal biomass level. The juvenile fraction of the population was 72% in numbers and 43% in biomass; main length mode was 8.0 cm and a second mode of 13.5 cm. The distribution of anchoveta was very coastal and with high density spots, associated with the coastal El Niño conditions occurring since February 2017 (IMARPE 2017).
During the first fishing season of 2016, only 50% of the TAC was attained, with around 917,000 tonnes of catches, due to the early closure of the fishery to protect the spawning peak. In the second fishing season of 2016 catches reached 1.96 million tonnes (98% of set TAC), with an incidence of juveniles of 28% in numbers (IMARPE 2017). In the first fishing season of 2017 catches were 2.37 million tonnes, representing 86% of set TAC. The incidence of juveniles of was 14% in numbers, significantly lower than in the previous fishing season. Fishing activities were carried out mainly between 5-20 nm; as the industrial fleet was allowed again to fish from the 5 nm (PRODUCE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Since the beginning of this fishery, anchoveta has passed three phases regarding recruitment and biomass levels; a low period from 1950 to 1972, a high level period from 1973 to 1991, and an intermediate period from 1992 to present. Since mid-1990’s, total biomass fluctuated around an average of 8.2 million tonnes in summers and 6.0 million tonnes in winters (IMARPE, 2014c).
According to IMARPE, landings and exploitation rates have been decreasing since 1994, due to more precautionary fishing policies (IMARPE, 2014c). Fishing mortality or exploitation rates are not published; however, fishing effort and CPUE are informed for each fishing season (IMARPE, 2016b,d). Landings peaked in 1970 at around 10 million tonnes, dropped to a minimum in 1978 to 480,000 tonnes, and peaked again in 1994 at around 9 million tonnes. Over the past decade, landings peaked at 8 million tonnes in 2000 and 2004, from 2006 to 2009 have stabilized around 5 million tonnes and dropped to an average of 3 million tonnes since 2010.
The species is strongly dependent on environmental variables, resulting in rapid fluctuations in biomass. Since 2009 an increase in variability amplitude and a trend to more positive anomalies is being observed and more pronounced fluctuations have characterized biomass estimates (IMARPE, 2014c,d). Cumulative adverse environmental conditions from late 2013 to early 2016 have affected the stock, resulting in changes in distribution patterns, delayed reproductive peaks, poor somatic conditions and higher percentage of juveniles. However, the stock has shown ability to recover rapidly even from prolonged unfavorable conditions when these normalize (IMARPE, 2014d; 2015d; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Anchoveta catches have been reported by the small pelagics purse seine fishery in Ecuador in the southern coast from 2001 to 2012, explained as an expansion of the anchoveta distribution range northwards, as a result of an adaptive response to warmer conditions (Instituto Nacional de Pesca, 2009). Landings have been very variable, in 2006-2008 anchoveta was the most important species for the small pelagics mixed fishery, peaking at 76,000 tonnes. Last significant volumes (12,000 tonnes) were landed in 2012, and from 2013 to 2015, there have been no catches (Instituto Nacional de Pesca 2017). Reports on catches have not been updated recently.
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Fisheries in Peru are managed by the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) and the Vice-Ministry of Fisheries. Anchoveta is managed by an adaptive system to account for highly ecosystem variability and consequent uncertainty and rapid fluctuations in biomass, typical of this resource and the Humbolt ecosystem (EUR-OCEANS, 2008).
Statutory management measures include :i) spatial closures (industrial fishing operations off 10 nm from the coast and and from 3 nm for artisanal and small-scale fleets), ii) temporal closures (to protect juveniles when the proportion is more than 10% of landings in numbers); iii) minimum mesh size (13 mm); iv) minimum landing size of 12cm; v) landings from artisanal fleets only for human consumption; vi) effort control (one trip per day, satellite positioning system on board; vii) a discard ban of fishing resources at sea (PRODUCE, 2012d), with incidental catches limited to 5% of total landings; viii) closed entry for new fishing boats.
In 2016, an electronic log system was implemented for all fleets to enforce controls. Industrial fleet is temporally allowed to fish within the 5 and 10 nm as exploratory fishing activities to collect data on species distributions patterns (PRODUCE 2016; PRODUCE 2017). Also, permission for landing of juveniles or bycatch in percentages above those allowed (10% and 5% respectively) is applied if timely informed by fishermen to allow managers to define proper closures, aiming to reduce incentives to discarding (PRODUCE 2016).
Since 2015 both institutions IMARPE and PRODUCE are gradually improving transparency regarding the management of this fishery. IMARPE publish daily landing records from both industrial and artisanal/small-scale fleets (IMARPE 2017). However, the decision making process is not made publicly available; there is no explicit harvest control rule that anticipates reducing fishing effort if spawning stock biomass drops to the limit level (4 million tonnes) nor mechanisms explaining how catch levels are defined among the alternative scenarios presented by IMARPE before a fishing season is opened.
Last updated on 16 August 2017
The artisanal and small scale fleets have not been managed under a catch limit program until this year, by implementation of the Supreme decree Decreto Supremo N° 005-2017 (PRODUCE 2017). This regulation provides also other new measures for these fleets: i) the change in fleets’ definition, with a maximum 32.6 m3 tonnage and 15 mts length and differentiation between small-scale and artisanal fleets, based on the use or not of mechanized fishing operations; ii) anchoveta extractive activities are only allowed from three miles off the coastline for all fleets, iii) mandatory registration of all authorized vessels in a national system, and iv) an annual total allowable catch limit for direct human consumption . As well, an electronic/radio log is required for these component of the fishery (PRODUCE 2016).
A specific quota of 300,000 tonnes was set in 2017 for the first time in history. The current artisanal quota is set on an annual basis, and is not fractioned by stock. There is no evidence that the quota is supported by a clear scientific recommendation (PRODUCE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
For the industrial fleet in the northern-central stock of Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) and Longnose anchovy (Anchoa nasus) a quota is set per each of two fishing seasons within a year. Longnose anchovy accounts for only a small percent of total landings. As of 2009, a Maximum Catch Limit per Vessel regime has been implemented; with the aim to reduce the pressure on the fishery and the environment by spacing out the effort over the season (PRODUCE, 2010). PRODUCE establishes industrial fleet fishing seasons’ periods based on real-time monitoring of the anchoveta spawning process and the presence of juveniles.
The first fishing season in 2017 (April-July) had a TAC of 2.8 million tonnes (PRODUCE 2017) and during the fishing season, 94 transitory fishery closures were set to protect juvenile anchoveta (PRODUCE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Adaptive management is used for this stock due to its strong dependence on environmental variables and rapid fluctuations in biomass (EUR-OCEANS, 2008). Some precautionary measures have been taken to allow the recovery of the stock from adverse environmental conditions, such as closure of the second fishing season in 2014, a lower TAC in second fishing season of 2015 and early closing of first fishing season in 2016 to protect the spawning peak (IMARPE, 2014c-e; IMARPE, 2015b-d; PRODUCE 2016).
Two Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) have been implemented recently to improve management of the industrial and for the artisanal and small-scale fleets (see FIP section).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
TAC in 2016 was still only applied to the industrial fleet; landings represented 96.3%of the quota (PRODUCE 2017). Landings have been below set TACs since the implementation of the quota system, except in 2008 and 2011 with slight exceeds. TAC was applied for the artisanal and small-scale fleets this year for the first time.
Mendo and Wosnitza‐Mendo (2014) conducted the reconstruction of marine fisheries catches in Peru between 1950 and 2010, through estimation of a correction factor for unreported catches, including discards of excess catch and juveniles, loss of fish blood, underestimation through misreporting by processing plants; illegal landings and irregular sales. By 2010, the estimate was 10%, confirming that the data gathering system needs improvement. Artisanal and small-scale fleets’ correction factor was on average 35% for the period of analysis. These two fleets by law target anchoveta only for direct human consumption, however, the catches are also illegally sold for reduction fishmeal plants.
Since 2010, monitoring and inspection has increased significantly (PRODUCE 2016; PRODUCE 2017; PRODUCE 2017), however, as usually the quota is almost completely attained, the correction factor for unreported catches should be reassessed and taken into account in the quota limit setting process.
Intensive monitoring and inspection is being conducted at landing and weighing points and on-board; in the 2017 first fishing season of industrial fleet most infractions related to excess of catches of hold capacity and misreporting (PRODUCE 2017).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
Peru recognizes different ETP species susceptible to direct or indirect interactions with the anchoveta fishery, as a key prey species of the Humboldt Current ecosystem of some Endangered, Protected and Threatened (ETP) species. National legislation, based on the IUCN Red List, prohibits the capture of protected species (seabirds, turtles and marine mammals) for commercial purposes, including Peruvian Diving Petrel, Humboldt penguin, Guanay cormorant, pelican, Peruvian booby, green sea turtle, South American sea lion and Southern fur seal. Commercial catch, processing and marketing of small cetaceans is prohibited by a national law since the mid-1990s (PERU 1996).
The main threat posed by this fishery consists of reduction of food availability to protected predator species (Gislason, 2003). An inverse relationship was also found between the anchoveta fishing mortality and populations of seabirds and pinnipeds, however the high environmental variability, such as El Niño events, is considered the main factor driving the Humboldt Current ecosystem associated with ETPs populations viability of rebuilding (IMARPE, 2010b). IMARPE highlights the difficulties to predict environmental variability and notes that focus should be on preservation of resilience of key species in the ecosystem, such as anchoveta. This is being implemented by protection of coastal areas, where this and many other species refuge, particularly under unfavorable oceanographic conditions, and spawning events and juvenile fraction of the population, to maintain the intrinsic species capability to recover within a highly variable ecosystem environment (IMARPE, 2014a) (PRODUCE 2016).
Anomalous environmental conditions since 2013 are considered the main cause for the increased diversity in the pelagic ecosystem, and therefore a higher number of non-target species caught as bycatch in the anchoveta fishery in 2014 and 2015 (IMARPE, 2015c,d), e.g. Smooth hammerhead (tiburón martillo, Sphyrna zygaena) which is categorized as “Vulnerable” by IUCN (IUCN, 2016) (PRODUCE, 2015e). Research surveys include monitoring and report of seabirds, mammals and fish species (IMARPE 2017), however there is no regular reporting of interactions of the anchoveta fishery with ETPs species.
There is a study underway to better understand the interactions of the industrial fishery in the coastal zone (PRODUCE 2017) and two FIPs are underway and aim to conduct actions for a better understanding of the fishery impacts on protected species and habitats (SNP and CeDePesca 2017).
OTHER TARGET AND BYCATCH SPECIES
Last updated on 16 August 2017
There is an IMARPE on-board observer program since 1996, which covers about 4-6% of the overall fishing effort (Hervás and Medley 2016). Longnose anchovy (Anchoa nasus) is captured along with anchoveta and are managed together under one quota in the industrial fishery. The proportion of this species in catch is not regularly reported and stock status is not known.
Peruvian law allows just up to 5% of non-target species bycatch in weight for all fleets in the anchoveta fishery (e.g. PRODUCE, 2015b,c). There is system for daily catch and bycatch data reporting for all fleets on IMARPE website, however, there are no regular analysis of bycatch related to the maximum allowed percentage. Saldarriaga (2015) estimated a bycatch rate of around 5% in the industrial fishery, using landings data from 2003 to 2011, and a decreasing trend in recent years. However, using bootstrapping and delta models, bycatch rates were around 10% with an increasing trend in the 2005-2011 period.
Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), squid and Carrot squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon) are mentioned as the main incidental species in the anchoveta industrial fishery (IMARPE 2014a, 2015c). In the artisanal and small-scale fleets, there are numerous species , including : silverside (Odontesthes regia), bonito (Sarda chilensis), squid (Loligo gahi), Jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), flounder (Paralichthys adspersus), Lorna drum (Sciaena deliciosa), red squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon), butterfish (Trachinotus paitensis), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), eagle rays (Myliobatis spp. among others, (CeDePesca 2010). Around 98 - 99% of the observed catch in the small-scale fishery was anchoveta (nearly 100% for the artisanal fleet) in recent fishing trips and bycatch species were Lorna drum (Sciaena deliciosa), longnose anchoveta (Anchoa nasus), chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and silverside (Odontesthes regia) (IMARPE 2015).
Anomalous environmental conditions since 2013 are considered the main cause for the higher numbers of juvenile anchoveta and non-target species (IMARPE, 2015c,d). Thus, IMARPE has recommended a strict control of landings, discarding and fishing within the 5 nm, as well as bycatch incidence (IMARPE, 2016c,d).
A permanent spatial closure of 3 nm along the Peruvian coastline for all fleets, implementation of the electronic log system that allows setting of timely closures and intense inspection in ports and on-board is a precautionary strategy recently in place to minimize the impact of the fishery (PRODUCE 2016)(PRODUCE 2017).
Ecuador
Purse seines
Last updated on 2 March 2015
Anchoveta is caught by the mixed small pelagics purse seine fishery in Ecuador in the southern coast since 2001 Instituto Nacional de Pesca, 2009).
In recent years, the most important species in catches have been chub makarel (Scomber japonicus, bullet mackerel (Auxis spp.), thread herring (Ophistonema ssp.), Pacific anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus) and Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi. Anchoveta has been the most significant species in total catches in 2007/2008 (Instituto Nacional de Pesca, 2009), however currently is a secondary species for this fleet with occasional catches, ranging from 0 to 6% from total small pelagics landings (around 200,000 tons) since 2010 (Instituto Nacional de Pesca, 2015).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
There is no direct impact on bottom habitats from purse seine, unless it is used in waters shallower than the nets height. Since 2012, industrial vessels can only operate outside the 10 nm from the coast; small-scale vessels (10 to 32.3 m3) between 5 and 10 nm, while the artisanal fleet (less than 10 m3) can operate from the coastline. The aim of this regulation is to protect coastal habitats and breeding zones for several species (PRODUCE, 2012b; IMARPE, 2014a). Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impacts of the artisanal fleet operating from mile zero and small-scale fleet operating between miles 5 and mile 10 as the morphology of the platform along the Peruvian coastline and associated habitats vulnerable to fishery impacts are not well known (Hervás and Medley 2016).
Recently, a permanent spatial closure of 3 nm along the Peruvian coastline for all fleets has been established (PRODUCE 2017). On the other hand, management authorities are keen to allow the industrial fleet to fish in coastal areas (IntraFish 2016) and temporary permissions to operate within the 5-10 nm zone were given in 2016 and 2017, as exploratory fishing activities to collect data on species distributions patterns (PRODUCE 2016; PRODUCE 2017).
Still, the main impact of the fishery on the ecosystem occurs via the impacts on the trophic chain, as anchovy is a forage species. A negative trend was observed for anchoveta landings from 1990 to 2012, what was also seen for other commercial species, which rely on anchoveta directly or indirectly through the trophic chain, underpinning the key role of anchoveta in Peruvian marine ecosystem (IMARPE, 2014a). Anchoveta is highly dependent on environmental events; periodically, the upwelling that drives the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem’s productivity, where the fishery operates, is disrupted by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Spatiotemporal variability affecting anchoveta at different temporal scales has been studied by several authors (Ballón et al., 2011; Bertrand et al., 2011; IMARPE, 2012a,b; Espino and Yamashiro, 2012; Espinoza and Bertrand, 2014; etc). During ENSO events, fish abundance and distribution are significantly affected, often leading to stock crashes and cascading social and economic impacts. These events cause regime shifts where anchovies and sardines alternate as the dominant species in the ecosystem. Still, both anchovy and sardine fisheries’ collapses can be attributed to a combination of El Niño events, decadal shifts towards less productive conditions and overfishing (Bertrand et al., 2011).
Prolonged warm anomalous conditions since late 2013 have led to higher diversity in the pelagic ecosystem, higher mixture of juvenile and adult organisms in anchoveta schools, diet change by anchoveta (from euphasids to copepods), more coastal distribution and increased consumption of anchoveta by coastal species due to its accessibility. These changes seem to increase risk upon the anchoveta stock (IMARPE, 2014a,c; 2015d). IMARPE highlights that difficulties to predict environmental variability are more evident in recent years, and indicates that focus should be on preservation its resilience by protecting coastal areas, spawning events and juveniles (IMARPE 2016; PRODUCE 2016).
Last updated on 16 August 2017
There are two Marine Reserves in Peru: Paracas Marine Reserve – extension of 335,000 ha of which 65% correspond to sea waters, created to protect especially seabirds such as the Humboldt penguin; and the National Reserve of Islands, Islets and Guano Headlands System – contains 22 islands and islets and 11 headlands (140,833 ha) and was created to preserve the continuity of the biological cycle of species that inhabit it and to help preserve straddlling fish stocks (Cedepesca, 2010). The creation of a new marine reserve has been proposed to protect an area within the tropical sea ecoregion in Peru (Peru Pesquero, 2015).
The Nature Conservancy has been working to address sustainable fisheries and marine conservation issues in Peru, promoting marine protected areas and is working with the IMARPE to predict how fish stocks will behave given certain environmental changes (TNC 2017).
In 2016 and 2017, around a hundred transitory fishery closures each fishing season were set to protect juveniles (Diario Gestión 2016; Diario Gestión 2017; PRODUCE 2017). As well, anchoveta extractive activities are now only allowed from three miles off the Peruvian coastline for all fleets, constituting a permanent spatial closure (PRODUCE 2017).
