Peruvian fishing sector registered a 20% drop in 2023

Industrial fishing, which is mainly dedicated to the extraction of anchovy and which contributes approximately 80% to the country's fishing GDP, suffered significant consequences, especially due to the impact of the El Niño Costero phenomenon. According to official data from the INEI, in 2023 the Peruvian economy fell by 0.6%, and one of the most affected productive sectors was fishing, which registered a drop of 20%. This activity takes place in two seasons, the first being the most important, which usually begins in April and lasts until July. During the first half of 2023, El Niño Costero caused an unusual warming of marine waters, leading the anchovy to seek refuge at a depth of more than 150 meters, which made it difficult to capture. As a result, mainly juveniles remained on the surface, which affected not only the quantity, but also the quality of the catch. Juan Carlos Ocampo, economist and professor at the Universidad Privada del Norte (UPN), explained to La República ...