Peruvian anchovy

Peruvian Anchovy in Southern Peru/ Northern Chile are not overfished or subject to overfishing.Stock assessments are conducted by the Peruvian and Chilean scientific institutions: Marine Institute of Peru (IMARPE) and the Fisheries Development Institute of Chile (IFPO). IFOP’s assessment model covers the entire stock, incorporating fishery and biological data from both Chile and Peru. The most recent stock assessment, published in 2023, uses data through that year.The stock assessment defines reference points for fishing pressure (F) and biomass (B). For fishing pressure, there is a target to keep F at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield (FMSY). For biomass, there is a target to keep B at or above BMSY.In 2023, the stock assessment estimated a Spawning-Stock Biomass (SSB) of 1.01 million tonnes, a significant decrease from 1.88 million tonnes in 2022. However, SSB remains well above the BMSY reference point (SSB:SSBMSY ratio of 2.91, with the target SSBMSY set at 348,454 tonnes). Overall, the stock is considered underexploited, with no concerns for biomass.Fishing mortality (F) in 2022 was 0.15, well below the management target of 1.07 (FMSY). The F:FMSY ratio was 0.46, indicating no concerns for fishing pressure.While there are no concerns for biomass or fishing pressure, juveniles have made up 75-80% of catches, and there is a general trend of smaller anchovies. If the high proportion of juvenile catches continues and leads to a decline in spawning stock biomass, it could raise concerns for biomass in the future.

Management is partially effective, some but not all relevant management measures are in place.Catches have remained below TACs and scientific advice, and some management measures are in place. However, key issues include the absence of a cooperative management plan and lack of coordinated advice between Peru and Chile, as well as the absence of a harvest control rule.The Peruvian anchovy is a transboundary stock requiring joint management. The Southern Peru/Northern Chile anchovy stock is managed in Chile by Chile’s Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) with guidance from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP). In Peru, it is managed by Peru’s Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) with input from the Marine Institute of Peru (IMARPE). A joint commission is expected to be operational by 2026 to coordinate the management of this shared resource.Both countries combine data for a joint stock assessment, and the models used for stock evaluations were enhanced in 2019-2020. Landings have been below TAC limits for both Peru and Chile. In 2022, Peru’s catch was 55% below the TAC, while Chile’s catch was less than 30% of the TAC in both 2021 and 2022. Seasonal closures are in place to protect juveniles.However, in 2023, the advised maximum TAC for the biological stock was up to 651,000 tonnes, but the combined recommended quotas ranged from 1,187,100 to 1,353,100 tonnes (Chile: 599,760 to 749,700 tonnes and Peru: 674,000 to 840,000 tonnes). There is no harvest control rule (HCR) to manage fishing if biomass declines. There are also concerns that management is not adequately protecting juvenile and small anchovy as the proportion is increasing in landings. There is a Strategic Action Programme in place for the Peruvian and Chilean governments to improve coordination of research, monitoring and management, against which progress is still needed.Separate management measures in place for Peru and Chile.Peru Measures:For the two active fleets (artisanal and industrial), incidental catches are limited to 5% by weight, and no new fishing licenses are issued. Since 2022, vessels capturing Peruvian anchovy for human consumption with a hold capacity greater than 10 m³ must have a mandatory Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Seasonal closures are regularly enforced, with 52 closures in 2021. To protect juveniles, a minimum mesh size of 13 mm is required, along with a 10% juvenile catch limit, a 12 cm minimum landing size, and regulations introduced in 2022 that mandate a minimum distance before casting based on juvenile catch percentages. Area restrictions are also defined.For the artisanal fleet, measures include gear specifications, a 3 nm coastal fishing restriction, mandatory satellite positioning, minimum landing size, and an annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC). There is no seasonal closure, and the catch limit is set nationally, despite two separate industrial stock management areas. Discarding is prohibited for the artisanal fleet, but no information is available on discarding requirements for the industrial fleet.Chile Measures:There is no minimum landing size for anchovy, as it is one of the species used for fishmeal production. While discarding is prohibited, exceptions apply to Peruvian anchovy. If recruits in the catch exceed 30%, local closures are triggered until levels drop. A joint management plan for the northern anchoveta and South American pilchard fisheries was implemented in April 2018, aiming to improve stock status, reduce bycatch, and address social issues. In 2020, an onboard camera and logbook discard control system were introduced. Certain areas are reserved exclusively for the artisanal fleet.

Peruvian anchovy is caught by purse seiners in Southern Peru/ Northern Chile. There has little to no impact on ecosystems however there are some bycatch concerns.Most Peruvian anchovy are caught using purse seines, which generally avoid contact with the seafloor, though bycatch remains a concern. Observers report that bycatch in this mixed fishery is rare.Several measures are in place to limit the impacts of the capture method on the wider environment in both Peru and Chile, although there are some differences in their implementation.Both countries protect Peruvian anchovy stocks through fisheries closures during the main recruitment period. Spatial closures are implemented within 5 nautical miles to safeguard vulnerable coastal habitats. Electronic logbooks are used to improve bycatch records and reduce incentives for illegal discarding, and both countries have ongoing bycatch and ecosystem projects to enhance data collection. Discarding is prohibited in the artisanal fleet, and marine protected areas (MPAs) are in place to protect seabirds and marine mammals. All industrial vessels in both countries are satellite tracked to ensure compliance with regulations.Peru-Specific Measures: In addition to shared measures, Peru has two marine protected areas specifically designed for seabirds and marine mammals, which are well respected by the anchoveta fishery. The artisanal fleet in Peru has a limit of 5% incidental catches relative to total landings.Chile-Specific Measures: Chile has additional bycatch mitigation efforts, including a bycatch monitoring program and a planned camera implementation. Furthermore, Chile mandates the return of all shark and ray species, marine mammals, reptiles, penguins, and seabirds to the sea. Chile also has five major MPAs covering 41% of its Exclusive Economic Zones, with 12% of these areas being highly protected and fully implemented. While discarding is prohibited in Chile, there are exemptions under certain circumstances.Although several management measures are in place to protect the wider environment, there are limitations to some of them. In Peru, bycatch data of the fishing fleet is not collected under a regular monitoring program, which makes it difficult to assess the impacts of the fishery. Longnose anchovy and anchoveta are managed together under a single quota in the industrial fishery, but the stock status of longnose anchovy remains unknown. Additionally, there is no routine monitoring of ecosystem interactions for the fishery, with more information available for the Northern-Central fishery. The main endangered species interacting with the fishery include the Peruvian pelican and sooty shearwater.In Chile, the fishery has relatively high levels of interaction with South American sea lions, particularly for the industrial fleet, as well as dolphins. There are also interactions with the Near-threatened sooty shearwater. Current temporal closures could be more effective in supporting the marine ecosystem, in addition to protecting the Peruvian anchovy stocks. Some progress has been made in this area, but further improvements are needed.