The Ministry of Production authorized the start of the first anchovy fishing season on May 13 in the north-central zone of Peru, as part of the resumption of activities after the state of emergency due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).

According to Ministerial Resolution No. 147-2020-PRODUCE, the maximum catch limit established by the sector for this season has been set at 2.413 million tons.

The norm refers that only the vessels that have a valid anchovy fishing permit and have the assignment of a maximum catch limit will operate, which will be published by the Director Resolution.

It has also been established that vessels must use purse seines with a minimum mesh size of ½ inch (13 millimeters) and have on board the platform-beacon of the Satellite Tracking System (SISESAT), which must permanently emit satellite positioning signals.

It has been decided to prohibit the extraction and processing of anchovy specimens with sizes smaller than those provided in the current regulations, allowing a maximum tolerance of 10% expressed in number of specimens.

In the event that juveniles are removed in percentages greater than 10% of the daily landings of a certain port, fishing activities will be suspended for a minimum period of three consecutive days from the fishing or occurrence areas so that they do not affect the population development of the resource.

For this season, Produce has established a sanitary protocol of operation before Covid-19 for the restart of industrial fishing activities (indirect human consumption) in the country.