Illegal Chinese ships have caused losses of more than US$300 million for all Peruvians

The drop in squid exports, due to indiscriminate fishing by a Chinese fleet without authorization to enter the Peruvian coast, has represented a loss of US$300 million for the public treasury, warned the National Society of Artisanal Fishing of Peru (SONAPESCAL). According to figures from the Ministry of Production (Produce), squid catches only amounted to 140,000 tons in the first half of 2024, a contraction of 70% compared to the same period of the previous year. This decrease has been replicated in a slowdown in formal employment in the sector. "This has resulted in 2024 being classified as the worst year for the fishing industry for direct human consumption so far this century," said Henry Juárez, leader of the Association of Artisanal Fishermen dedicated to the extraction of squid, parrotfish, and other Parachique – La Bocana (APADEXPO). The behavior of Chinese vessels, which has been categorically described as risky for Peru, is not limited to fishing in permitted areas. ...