Identifying priority areas for improvement in Peruvian Fisheries

Abstract

Peru is one of the most important countries when it comes to fisheries production by volume. On average (2004–2016), the anchoveta fishery alone accounts for 84.5% of the national volume of fish landed. Yet, in recent years, artisanal fisheries for jumbo flying squid and mahi mahi, as well as a number of small scale fisheries, have undergone profound changes and have substantially increased in their socio-economic importance within Peru. Despite their current relevance as sources of export revenue, as well as jobs and food security for coastal communities, little attention has been paid to these fisheries. Based on a literature review and a consultation process with key individuals in the fisheries sector in Peru, we identify the four most pressing policy change priorities relevant to the current challenges in the sustainable management of Peruvian fisheries and provide recommendations to address them. Results from this study suggest that the principal concerns of fishery stakeholders are: a) the high turnover in political and regulatory authorities, b) shortfalls in monitoring control and surveillance (MCS) systems and operations, c) the need to update and improve fishery-specific management regulations and d) the gaps in fisheries research.