Minister Pérez-Reyes: IMARPE begins evaluation cruise to estimate anchoveta biomass and determine the start date of the First 2019 Fishing Season
- The operation, which covers the entire Peruvian coastline, will last forty-three days
- This cruise will also serve to determine the extent and potential impact of El Niño weather phenomenon
- The cruise will include the participation of the BIC José Olaya Balandra, Humboldt and the IMARPE IV and IMARPE V fishing boats.
The Minister of Production, Raúl Pérez-Reyes, informed that last Tuesday, the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE) began the hydroacoustic evaluation cruise to estimate the biomass of the main pelagic species, particularly the anchoveta, which will allow to determine the volume of allowable catch and the start date of the First 2019 Fishing Season.
"This cruise will also serve to obtain information on the evolution of the reproductive process, the concentration of eggs and larvae of the anchovy, as well as to quantify their recruitment. In addition, oceanographic studies will be conducted to determine the extent and potential impact of the current El Niño event, he said.
He specified that the operation, which covers the entire Peruvian coastline, will last 43 days and will include the participation of the BIC José Olaya Balandra and BIC Humboldt scientific ships and the IMARPE IV and IMARPE fishing boats; and will have the support of private industrial vessels to expand the sampling coverage.
Pérez-Reyes explained that the cruise will be carried out in two stages (south and north) and will include the maritime area between Morro Sama and Punta Sal. The southern stage will extend from Tacna to Callao from February 12 to March 3 (20 days) and the northern stage will extend from Callao to Punta Sal from March 6 to 28 (23 days).
"This evaluation is based on the best available scientific information and is the basis for PRODUCE to formulate fisheries management and sustainability measures", he highlighted.
He noted that, at the end of this process, which will allow to know the distribution and concentration of the resource, among others - IMARPE will prepare a technical report with the main results of this evaluation that will serve to estimate the start and the quota of the First Fishing Season in the Central – North area
The minister highlighted that 88 IMARPE specialists participate in this cruise, and will carry out research activities in the fields of acoustics, fishing gear, biology and oceanography.
Source: Peruvian Production Ministry (PRODUCE)
English translation: under IFFO's liability