Artisanal squid fishermen repeatedly see Chinese jiggers fishing within the Peruvian EEZ (Illustrative photo)

SNI Fishing and Aquaculture Committee: 'I believe Peruvian artisanal fishermen'

PERU
Sunday, September 22, 2024, 13:00 (GMT + 9)

• The SNI Fishing Committee has issued a statement on alleged illegal fishing by foreign industrial squid jiggers who freely use Peruvian ports. 

• They demand that squid research cruises be carried out, which PRODUCE has not carried out for 4 years.

Alfonso Miranda, president of the SNI Fishing and Aquaculture Committee, stated that while some authorities say that foreign squid jiggers that enter national ports do not practice illegal fishing, dozens of artisanal fishermen claim to have seen them fishing in the Peruvian sea.

“Given both versions, I believe the Peruvian artisanal fishermen who are at sea every day,” said Miranda, who recalled that "artisanal fishing is experiencing the worst crisis in the last 30 years and that if control measures are not taken, unemployment and the halting of fishing for human consumption will be dramatic before the end of the year.”

“We also demand that the Ministry of Production resume oceanographic cruises for squid research, which were paused four years ago. This has caused the Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE) to be limited and unable to adequately monitor the resource. Therefore, despite having the best scientists in the world, they cannot give accurate forecasts if they are not given the proper working conditions,” stated the members of the plenary of the SNI Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture when asked about the status of squid research.

On Friday, September 20, the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through its spokesperson, Mariano Gutiérrez Torero, stated that the Chinese fleet operates outside the 200 miles of the Peruvian sea and that the major shortage of squid that occurs in the markets will normalize. The Ministry of Production itself has indicated that the decrease in squid catches is due to the “El Niño” phenomenon.

However, the Multisectorial Commission in charge of the National Study of the “El Niño” Phenomenon -ENFEN- which is the national scientific entity responsible for the analysis of the aforementioned phenomenon, in which the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE) participates, confirmed, in opposition to PRODUCE, that said phenomenon is not active and that, in addition, “it is expected that the giant squid or squid will continue to be available to the fishery off the central coast.”

The members of the Fishing and Aquaculture Committee of the National Society of Industries (SNI) stated that they value PRODUCE's effort to communicate about this situation, but that, nevertheless, it seems to them that they are reacting in an improvised manner to the multiple questions made by citizens who have been affected by an increase never seen before in the sale prices of squid and that prevents a country with 16 million people in food insecurity from accessing high quality proteins at a low price.

For its part, the aforementioned fishing committee points out that, if we talk about the "El Niño" Phenomenon, the most affected species is the anchovy, but PRODUCE itself has described this year as an exceptionally favorable one for this resource.

Likewise, the horse mackerel and the bonito have also had records above average.

Only the squid has been negatively affected and the only different thing that could have affected it is the existence of hundreds of foreign ships, whose owners say they operate on the edge of the Peruvian jurisdictional sea.

In the interview, the spokesman for the Ministry of Production did not respond when questioned about the reasons why the Ministry of Production has stopped applying the regulations that require Chinese vessels to use the satellite tracking system, a fact that has resulted in more than 300 entries into Peruvian ports by these foreign vessels without having the SISESAT satellite device required by current regulations.

However, Gutiérrez Torero was emphatic in stating that the Ministry of Production considers that there is no evidence of illegal Chinese fishing in the Peruvian sea.

Finally, Miranda urged Minister Sergio Gonzáles Guerrero to comply with the announcement he made on July 28, referring to the prompt promulgation of the regulations that prevent more foreign vessels from continuing to enter Peru without using the satellite device of the Ministry of Production.

"This would be a first step towards creating conditions for the artisanal fishing sector to regain confidence in its authorities in the future," he said.

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• The invisible agenda of the giant squid
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• Peru's artisanal fisheries declare Xi Jinping persona non grata and ask for intervention from President Dina Boluarte



• They denounce that illegal Chinese fleets cost Peru US$300 million



• 'We ask for speed in the regularization of fishing vessels that operate outside of 200 miles



• The deadline imposed by PRODUCE to issue regulations that end the questioned entry of Chinese ships into Peru is running out

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