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Giant Squid Catch in Peru Projected to Grow by 245%

PERU
Monday, December 22, 2025, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

A new regulatory framework and strengthened satellite control drive the recovery of "pota" at the close of 2025.

The Peruvian fishing industry is preparing for a historic year-end. According to projections by Alfonso Miranda Eyzaguirre, President of Calamasur (Committee for the Sustainable Management of the South Pacific Giant Squid), the catch of giant squid (locally known as pota) in Peru is expected to reach 650,000 tons by the end of 2025. This figure represents an impressive 245% increase compared to the 188,300 tons recorded in 2024.

Recuperación tras un periodo crítico

After a solid 2023 with 581,000 tons, the sector faced a drastic decline in 2024. However, statistics from the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) confirm the upward trend: between January and July 2025 alone, landings totaled 441,600 tons, which is 155.6% more than the same period the previous year (172,800 tons).

Miranda Eyzaguirre explained to Agencia Andina that while oceanographic factors influenced resource variability, 2025 has been a turning point thanks to:

• Stricter control over foreign fleets.

• Implementation of new catch rules.

• The entry into force of Supreme Decree No. 014-2024-PRODUCE, which requires foreign vessels to use the Peruvian satellite system.

Modernization of the Legal Framework and the ROP

A fundamental milestone was the update of the Fisheries Management Regulation (ROP) for giant squid in March 2025, through Supreme Decree No. 003-2025-PRODUCE. This regulation had not been revised in nearly 15 years.

Elsa Vega, President of the National Society of Artisanal Fishing of Peru (SONAPESCAL), highlighted that these changes address historical demands:

"The update of the ROP marks a before and after. It recognizes the historical rights of artisanal fishing and sets clear conditions for its management."

Advances in Satellite Monitoring and Safety

The control of the artisanal fleet has taken a significant technological leap. Thanks to the opening of the satellite equipment market (which expanded from 2 to 5 providers), the coverage of SISESAT (Satellite Tracking System) grew from approximately 1,600 vessels in 2024 to nearly 2,350 as of November 2025, a 47% increase.

Other key achievements in technology and safety include:

• 557 artisanal vessels registered with the SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation).

• 1,200 artisanal vessels now equipped with emergency beacons, as reported by the Peruvian Navy.

• Strengthening the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, as noted by Stefany Rojas, biologist and program coordinator at the Innovations for Ocean Action Foundation (I4OA).

Perspectives for 2026: Toward International Certification

The future of pota is aimed at high-demand global markets. The resource has already entered the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Improvement Program with the goal of obtaining sustainability certification. According to Alfonso Miranda Eyzaguirre, the agenda for 2026 will focus on consolidating functional traceability, eradicating illegal shipyards, and strengthening the fight against informality.

"Today, the giant squid fishery is on track toward certification; however, it is still necessary to address priority issues and move toward management based on technical, scientific criteria and shared responsibility," concluded the president of Calamasur.

With this approach, Calamasur and artisanal guilds seek to protect one of Peru’s most vital fisheries, ensuring that the projected growth remains sustainable in the long term.

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