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.
