RECOMMENDATIONS
Last updated on 13 September 2018
Recommendations to Retailers & Supply Chain
- 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.
- Advocate for the development of annual stock assessments that incorporate improved catch data (landings and discards) and consider the effects of environmental variability on the population. Stock assessment results should be peer reviewed and publically reported.
- Encourage the Peruvian authorities to make public the process by which the artisanal sector TAC is determined, and to assign each stock a specific quota based on scientific advice.
- Encourage the Peruvian research authorities to assess the status of minor species (e.g. longnose anchovy (Anchoa nasus) and develop management/rebuilding plans as appropriate.
- Work with scientists and managers to improve reporting of catches, discards and all bycatch; analyse the data and publish the results on bycatch quantities and trends.
- Develop and implement bycatch reduction measures for the industrial and artisanal fleets based on increased knowledge from the IMARPE observer programme.
- Work with scientists to define the scale of interactions with benthic habitats.
Last updated on 17 July 2018
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; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2018).
Since 2015, IMARPE improved reporting on the monitoring of the anchoveta Northern Central stock, publishing protocols and presenting more details on the methodology for estimating biomass and catch recommendations in most technical reports (IMARPE, 2015d; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2016; IMARPE 2017). However, assumptions on population parameters for stock projections are still not reported (IMARPE 2018). As well, some sources of fishing mortality such as juveniles discards, illegal catches and losses of anchoveta from gillneted fish are not included in the stock assessment (OCEANA Peru 2018). Since 2009, there is an increase in variability amplitude, more pronounced biomass fluctuations and juvenile proportion in population has increased as a reproductive response of the stock to environmental changes. This leads to higher uncertainty about stock status in the long-term (IMARPE, 2014c,d; 2016b-d) and need to increase monitoring of the stock (IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2018).
An external technical audit by FAO recommended the use of a stock assessment model to compare stock status with direct biomass estimates (FAO, 2014), however, none was conducted since then. Instead, survey frequency and intensity has been increased with support from the industry (EUREKA surveys, e.g. IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017), and a survey to estimate spawning biomass using the egg production method was also carried out (IMARPE 2017).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
IMARPE usually 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 to 6.0 million tonnes for the next spawning season from empirical observations) (IMARPE, 2014a; IMARPE, 2015d; IMARPE 2016). Assumptions on population parameters for calculating exploitation prospect levels are generally not provided in reports, e.g. (IMARPE 2018).
For the 2017 first fishing season, catch advice was 2.8 million tonnes, based on expected neutral to favorable environmental conditions. As well, IMARPE highlighted the importance of protecting the juvenile fraction of the stock (IMARPE 2017). A low biomass was observed in August-July, thus IMARPE recommended to delay the beginning of the 2017 second fishing season to the third week of November, but no catch explicit advice was provided (IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017; IMARPE 2017). IMARPE recommended closing this fishing season earlier than expected due to the detection of the summer spawning peak (IMARPE 2018). A high biomass and low reproductive status was observed in the February-April acoustic survey, thus IMARPE recommended to start the 2018 first fishing season immediately, with catch levels between 3 and 3.5 million tonnes (IMARPE 2018). IMARPE highlighted the need to report discards - including estimates of gillneted fish in fishing nets.
A specific quota for the artisanal component of the anchoveta fishery was set in 2017 for the first time (PRODUCE 2017); but there is no evidence that the quota is supported by a clear scientific recommendation. The same catch limit was set for 2018, taking into account the results from the last acoustic survey but with no clear justification on the volume set (PRODUCE 2018).
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 (SNP and CeDePesca 2017).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
The species is strongly dependent on environmental variables, resulting in rapid fluctuations in biomass. 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), however, an increase in variability amplitude and anomalies is being observed since 2009, with more pronounced fluctuations in biomass estimates (IMARPE, 2014c,d).
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). Total biomass was 7.78 million tonnes in March-April 2017, with 43% juveniles in biomass. The distribution of anchoveta was very coastal and with high density spots, associated with the coastal El Niño since February 2017 (IMARPE 2017). In August, the spawning stock biomass was estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, using the egg production method (IMARPE 2017). Then, the September-November acoustic survey detected a total biomass of 6.06 million tonnes, with 67% juveniles in biomass, widely spread along and from the coast (IMARPE 2017). In February-April, a total biomass of 10.86 million tonnes was reported, with 35% juveniles in biomass, with wide spatial distribution and high homogenous density (IMARPE 2018).
According to IMARPE, landings and exploitation rates have been decreasing since 1994, due to more precautionary fishing policies (IMARPE, 2014c). 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 are around 3 million tonnes since 2010.
Fishing mortality or exploitation rates are not published; however, fishing effort and CPUE are informed for each fishing season (IMARPE 2017)(IMARPE 2018).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
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).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
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). Peruvian statutory seasons/closures are based on anchoveta’s spawning cycle: a summer closure to protect the growth of anchovy juveniles, and a winter closure to protect the spawning stock. Statutory management measures include: i) spatial closures (industrial fishing operations off 5 nm from the coast, ii) provisional 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 12 cm; 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.
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 fishing seasons to protect the spawning peak (IMARPE, 2014c-e; IMARPE, 2015b-d; PRODUCE 2016; IMARPE 2018).
In 2016, an electronic log system was implemented for all fleets to enforce controls, but has only started to be implemented in the second fishing season of 2017. By properly reporting catch composition, fishermen are awarded through an increase on the allowed percentages of juveniles and bycatch (which are defined as 10% and 5% of total catch, respectively) (PRODUCE 2016). If properly implemented and adopted, these measures will allow managers to define proper closures, aiming to reduce incentives to discarding.
Since 2015 both institutions IMARPE and PRODUCE are gradually improving transparency regarding the management of this fishery. IMARPE publishes 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.
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 17 July 2018
The artisanal and small scale fleets have not been managed under a catch limit program until 2017 by the supreme decree 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 this 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). The same volume was set as TAC for the artisanal and small scale fleet in 2018 (PRODUCE 2018).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
For the industrial fleet a quota is set per each of two fishing seasons within a year. Longnose anchovy (Anchoa nasus) accounts for only a small percent of total landings, however current volumes are not available. 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); 94 transitory fishery closures were set to protect juvenile anchoveta during the fishing season (PRODUCE 2017). The second fishing season in 2017 was opened with a TAC of 1.49 million tonnes (PRODUCE 2017) on November 27th but exploratory fishing indicated a low catchability and high percentage of juveniles, so the fishery was suspended. It was re-opened on January 5th (PRODUCE 2018) until January 27th; 30 transitory fishery closures were set to protect juvenile anchoveta during this fishing season even if PRODUCE defined a large closure zone. The fishing season was closed early due to the detection of the summer spawning peak (PRODUCE 2018).
A TAC of 3.3 million tonnes was defined for the first fishing season in 2018, which started in April (PRODUCE 2018).
Last updated on 17 July 2018
Since 2010, monitoring and inspection has increased significantly in the industrial fleet (PRODUCE 2016; PRODUCE 2017; PRODUCE 2017). Intensive monitoring and inspection is being conducted at landing and weighing points and on-board and reports of suspensions are public (PRODUCE 2017; PRODUCE 2018).
Landings have been below set TACs since the implementation of the quota system, except in 2008 and 2011. In the first fishing season of 2017 catches were 2.37 million tonnes, representing 86% of set TAC. The incidence of juveniles was 14% in numbers. 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). During the second fishing season of 2017, only 46% of the TAC was attained, due to the early closure of the fishery to protect the spawning peak (PRODUCE 2018). 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.
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. In 2017, a TAC was applied for the artisanal and small-scale fleets this year for the first time (PRODUCE 2017). Catch information from the artisanal fleet is not yet available to compare wth set TAC.
Level of compliance with spatial closures (3 nm for artisanals, 10 nm industrial vessels) and maximum 5% bycatch is not publicly reported.
Last updated on 17 July 2018
There are some warnings indicating that this fleet sells anchoveta to fishmeal processing plants, which is not allowed (GEF-PNUD 2014).
Last updated on 19 July 2018
Peru recognizes different ETP species susceptible to direct or indirect interactions with the anchoveta fishery. On the one hand, anchoveta is considered a key prey species of the Humboldt Current ecosystem of some Endangered, Protected and Threatened (ETP) species. On the other hand, the fishery may interact with ETP species such as seabirds or marine mammals. National legislation (Supreme decree 034-2004-AG) 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).
Last updated on 19 July 2018
Little information is available on the impact of the artisanal anchovy fishery on ETP species. Among the ETP species identified as bycatch in this fishery are seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles, based on a GEF-PNUD-GEMCH project report (GEF-PNUD 2014). A risk analysis conducted in 2012 identified that seabirds Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus), Guanay cormorant (Phalacrocoraz bougainvillii), Red-legged cormorant (Phalacrocorax gaimardii), Neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) were at highest risk of direct impact by the artisanal anchovy fishery. No on-board monitoring program has been implemented in this fishery yet; thus, no estimates on bycatch or mortality rates are available.
Last updated on 19 July 2018
The Marine Institute of Peru, IMARPE, monitors about 4-6% of the industrial fleet with on-board observers since 1996 (Hervás and Medley 2016), but data on bycatch of species is rarely reported, so information publicly available on the direct impact of the industrial anchovy fishery on ETP species is limited. Most of the information available on bycatch on this fishery refers to bycatch of anchovy juveniles, and other fish species and jellyfish (Quiñones et al. 2013; Torrejón Magallanes 2014; Fréon et al. 2014). Nonetheless, various ETP species have been reported as being directly impacted by this fishery and interactions appear to be more frequent with seabirds, dolphins and sea lions (Fréon et al. 2014)(Peraltilla and Vinatea 2016)(Vinatea et al. 2017).
There are no current mitigation measures in place to reduce ETP bycatch.
Last updated on 19 July 2018
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), however, there are no regular analysis of bycatch related to the maximum allowed percentage.
Longnose anchovy (Anchoa nasus) is captured along with anchoveta and are managed together under one quota in both the industrial and artisanal fishery. The proportion of this species in catch is not regularly reported and stock status is not known.
Anomalous environmental conditions since 2013 are considered the main cause for the higher numbers of juvenile anchoveta and non-target species (IMARPE, 2015c,d). A permanent spatial closure of 3 nm along the Peruvian coastline for both fleets is in place (PRODUCE 2017)(PRODUCE 2018).
Ecuador
Purse seines
Last updated on 19 July 2018
Anchoveta was caught by the mixed small pelagics purse seine fishery in Ecuador in the southern coast since 2001 Instituto Nacional de Pesca, 2009). In 2012, the mesh size was mandatorily increased by managers authorities changing completely the species list and anchoveta is no longer captured.
Last updated on 19 July 2018
A report recently made publicly on bycach by small-scale fleets in the coastal area using data from 2012 to 2016, indicate a diversity of species as bycatch, depending on the distance to the coast (IMARPE 2017). A research study is underway to determine if the 3 nm distance for this fleet is appropriate or if a depth reference should be implemented to protect bycatch species.
Last updated on 19 July 2018
An electronic log system that allows setting of timely closures and intense inspection in ports and on-board was implemented in the second fishing season 2017 for the industrial fishery (PRODUCE 2016)(PRODUCE 2017).
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).
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).
Last updated on 19 July 2018
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. 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). Since 2017, the artisanal fleet must operate at least at 3 nm from the coastline (PRODUCE 2017). The aim of this regulation is to protect coastal habitats and breeding zones for several species and habitats (PRODUCE, 2012b; IMARPE, 2014a).
Last updated on 19 July 2018
A research study is underway to determine if the 3 nm distance for this fleet is appropriate or if a depth reference should be implemented to protect bycatch species (IMARPE 2017).
Last updated on 19 July 2018
The main threat posed by this fishery consists of reduction of food availability to protected predator species (Gislason, 2003), as anchovy is a forage species. An inverse relationship was found between the anchoveta fishing mortality and populations of seabirds and pinnipeds. Also, 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).
However, the high environmental variability is considered the main factor driving the Humboldt Current ecosystem associated with ETPs populations viability of rebuilding (IMARPE, 2010b). 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. Spatial-temporal 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).
As well, 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 of resilience of key species in the ecosystem, such as anchoveta, by protecting coastal areas, spawning events and juveniles (IMARPE 2016; PRODUCE 2016).
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Anchoveta - Peruvian Northern-Central