CHORRILLOS, PERU– Peru’s fishing industry is the backbone of the nation’s culture and economy. Ingrained in the country’s national identity, fishing plays a large role in food security. According to Juan Carlos Riveros, the scientific director of Oceana, an international marine conservation organization, 50% of Peru’s gastronomy industry is dependent on seafood. Easily accessible, impoverished communities heavily rely on fish as a source of protein as it is 20% cheaper than chicken and other proteins.
With approximately 200 species fished along its shores, Peru’s coast has a rich biodiversity of marine life. Prominent species include anchoveta, bonita, corvina, sole, mahi-mahi, machete, mackerel, yankee, crabs, lobsters, octopi, and various shellfish. Local fishers sell their catch in Chorrillos, at the Mercado Pesquero Artesanal de Chorrillos. Established in the 1960s, this market began as an array of seafood stands that quickly developed into a hotspot for ceviche. By the 1980s, the fishermen’s union turned these stands into an official establishment. The abundance of fishing activities support local consumption and a large international market, with exports generating approximately $1.3 billion each year. Peru’s fishing industry experiences seasonal changes with fluctuations in catch volumes. The prime fishing season runs from October to February. The off-season occurs from March to October, where fishers see lower populations, causing prices to increase. Fluctuations in catch are also dependent on the prevalence of industrial and illegal/informal fishers in the Pacific.
Surpluses in industrial and illegal/informal fishers, characterized by unlicensed fishers on unpermitted vessels, have negatively impacted artisanal (local small-scale) fishers’ livelihoods and the health of the ecosystem. Riveros stated that industrial vessels can take up to 200,000 tons of fish in a single day to turn into fishmeal. Additionally, informal fishers increase prices by 50% to generate more profit. Although the Peruvian government implemented policies that banned industrial fishers from fishing within five miles of the coast, artisanal fishers still struggle with limited resources, competition with illegal/informal fishers, and insufficient government support.
In response to marine population changes, organizations like Oceana advocate for policymakers to increase sustainable fishing practices. Through their research and grassroots activism, Oceana successfully petitioned for the criminalization of illegal fishing vessel construction. These efforts are expected to reduce overfishing and competition with artisanal fishers. Oceana is currently working on two campaigns in Peru: formalizing more fishermen within five miles off of the coast and promoting satellite tracking to monitor fishing activities. These conservation efforts aim to preserve Peru’s marine biodiversity while simultaneously sustaining artisanal fishers’ livelihoods and the industry as a whole. The voices of artisanal fishers and environmental specialists are crucial to the development of holistic solutions.