Private representatives from the fishing sector and authorities aboard the BIC Humboldt. Photo: Courtesy

Push for Fishing Sustainability: SNI Welcomes Scientific Cruises for Jumbo Squid (Pota)

PERU
Friday, November 14, 2025, 18:00 (GMT + 9)

Peru reinforces the scientific management of the country's second most important fishing resource, key to the artisanal fleet and exports, with a record quota of over 600,000 tons set for 2025 and active monitoring against the high-seas fleet.

On the right, the Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) Humboldt

Launch of Scientific Expedition and Industry Position

The National Society of Industries (SNI), through its Fishing and Aquaculture Committee, has expressed support for the initiative by the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) to carry out a scientific expedition. The objective is to determine the actual state of the Jumbo Squid or Pota (Dosidicus gigas) and ensure its sustainable utilization.

The management of Minister César Quispe Luján was positively evaluated by the industrial guild, highlighting the importance of investing in the biological knowledge of the resource.

The head of the Fishing and Aquaculture Committee, Alfonso Miranda Eyzaguirre, expressed his satisfaction at the event held aboard the Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) Humboldt. This new phase of research, which is part of the so-called "Jumbo Squid Operation IV," according to information from other sources, began its activities along the southern coast of the country. It is worth noting that, according to reports, the BIC Humboldt recently set sail on a 30-day mission to investigate the sustainability of the resource and preventative measures against the El Niño Phenomenon.

"It is necessary to generate awareness of a resource as important as pota, which represents Peru's number one fishery in job creation and is the livelihood of artisanal fishing. It must have, every year, at least one research cruise and be provided with the resources to efficiently monitor its biomass," stated Miranda Eyzaguirre.

National and International Strategy

The scientific cruise includes monitoring the area recovered by Peru after the border dispute with Chile, an area highlighted for its hydrobiological richness. Miranda Eyzaguirre emphasized that this is a zone rich in squid, Mahi-Mahi (Perico), jack mackerel, and mackerel, with optimal conditions for appropriate exploitation by the national fleet.

Photo: Stockfile/FIS

In the international sphere, the SNI representative urged Peru to take a "very active" role in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) to regulate the squid in international waters. This aims to maintain a policy compatible with the responsible management the country conducts within its maritime domain, especially against pressure from the long-distance fleet (mostly composed of vessels from China and South Korea) operating on the high seas. SPRFMO seeks to ensure the compatibility of conservation measures on the high seas with those adopted within national jurisdiction, as the squid is a highly migratory species.

Photo: SNI Headquarter

Economic Impact and Record Figures

The results of the scientific cruise will be announced on December 14, as anticipated by the Ministry of Production.

In terms of economics, Darío Alvítes, vice president of the SNI Fishing and Aquaculture Committee, presented encouraging figures, revealing that:

• As of September 2025, exports of squid-based products reached a value of 826 million dollars.

• Annual consumption in the domestic market exceeds 80,000 tons.

• The main export destination is China, followed by Spain and South Korea, with shipments going to over 40 other countries.

Photo: Stockfile/FIS

Additional Relevant Information

The commitment to the resource is reflected in recent PRODUCE decisions for the year 2025.

1. Historic Quota: Through Ministerial Resolution No. 00346-2025-PRODUCE, the Maximum Total Allowable Catch (MTAC) for jumbo squid in 2025 was raised to 609,935 tons, surpassing the 572,804 tons initially set. This adjustment, supported by scientific evidence from the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE), aims to guarantee the sustainability of the resource, which has shown recovery after the El Niño event in 2023 and the contraction in 2024.

2. Scientific Operations: The current expedition is part of the Jumbo Squid Operation IV, which has also taken place in northern areas such as Paita and Parachique (Piura). This resource is the country's second most important in volume and export value.

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