PERU FISHING SITUATION – ANCHOVY SEASON 2026-I
     It is known that this year Peru is facing a new event of El Niño, that came earlier to this side of the Pacific Ocean (region ENSO 1+2), where we call it a Coastal El Niño, and now (July 15, 2026),  the warming is just starting in the Central Pacific (region ENSO 3.4), where they measure the ´Global El Niño´.

     This heating is part of the development of  this  event, and was carried by the  several Kelvin Waves that transfer the warm waters from the West to the East Pacific, turning the cold Humboldt system into a tropical one. Unfortunately, more of these oceanic pulses are expected in the coming months.

     Consequently, along the Peruvian coastline the sea waters are showing a strong  variation reflected in positive anomalies that range from +3 to + 6° C,  depending on the zone, but mostly existing in the North and Central regions; the southern one is having also positive anomalies, but intensity is lower.

     The main effect of having changed the usual pattern to higher sea temperatures and higher salinity is the disturbance of the normal feeding and distribution of anchovy, as the adults usually escape from these conditions , making more difficult or impossible the normal fishing activities. Being in stress, juveniles are more vulnerable because have less resources and experience to move to colder areas and are therefore caught in a percentage that exceeds by far the usual tolerance.

     Following this scenario, authorities suspended the catching activities without a fixed date for the end, and since then, the industry has been waiting for a new opportunity of  fishing, a  new window to let them explore and see if the fishing could continue.  Unfortunately, the investigations made by IMARPE led to reports that were not positive for the opening of this new period of activity; another factor that does not help is the proximity of the change of government (July 28th ), meaning that present authorities would not have the power to confront the arguments against the continuity of the anchovy season.

     Peru’s First 2026 anchovy season in the North-Central zone was authorized by PRODUCE with a Total Allowable Catch of 1’914,049 metric tons, the lowest quota of the past decade, excluding 2023, when the first season was ultimately not carried out. Up to date, only 24.6% of this volume could be landed.

Sourse: Ouw elaboration  July 15, 2026.