PERU FISHING SITUATION – ANCHOVY 2026-I SEASON
     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. At  this moment (June 12, 2026) the warming is just starting in the Central Pacific (region ENSO 3.4), where they measure the ´Global El Niño´.

    The main consequences of having higher sea temperatures and higher salinity  are the disturbance of the normal feeding and distribution of anchovy, that usually escape from these conditions , making more difficult or impossible the usual 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 placed several minibans and then longer ones for young fish protection, measures that ended with a new one extended without a fixed date.  A new investigation has to take place before the re-opening,  and for this purpose they may consider the help of the qualified fishing boats for the sea exploration plan, always conducted by IMARPE. Big producers figuring out that the fishing activities would only resume late June- early July.

Sourse: Ouw elaboration  June 12, 2026.