The major species of commercial importance in Peru are the pelagic species anchovies, sardines and jacks; as well as the demersal species hake. The production of small pelagics ranges from six to eleven million tonnes per year, with serious fluctuations in stocks and catches according to changes in environmental phenomena such as El Niño, which often occurs in 3-7 year cycles. Demersal fisheries produce on the order of 100 000 to 180 000 tonnes per year. Industrial fisheries commonly use purse seines and bottom trawls. Artisanal fisheries use a variety of gillnets, seines, traps, longlines, harpoons and many others.
Fishery research is aimed at stock assessment, improvement of industrial and artisanal fisheries, and identification of possible new fishery resources.
There are three main Governmental institutions working in fishery research and development. The Marine Institute of Peru (Instituto del Mar del Perú, IMARPE), which has a General Directorate of Fisheries, conducts period stock assessment of the major commercial species to support conservation and management of the resources. The National School of Artisanal Fisheries (Escuela Nacional de Pesquería Artesanal, PAITA) conducts training activities aimed at improving fishing gear. The Fisheries Development Fund (Fondo de Desarrollo de la Pesca, FONDEPES) has an artisanal fisheries unit as well as aquacultural activities.
Several universities have fishery engineering departments which conduct research and training activities in fishing technology. Some of these groups have established working relations with particular sectors of the fishing industry. The people conducting research focused on fishing technology, selectivity and efficiency are mainly fishery engineers. Some biologists also participate. Stock assessments, on the other hand, are conducted mainly by biologists, with support from fishery engineers.
IMARPE is the institution with the most firmly established fishery research projects, aimed mainly at stock assessment with acoustic and fishing surveys. It has headquarters in Callao and seven coastal laboratories, as well as arrangements with other groups that participate in its research. It reports regularly to the Ministry of Fisheries and disseminates information to the private sector as well. Its publications include the monthly Progressive Report (Informe Progresivo), as well as series of Bulletins and Reports (Boletínes e Informes) which present more rigorous scientific and technical studies. Research results are given a great deal of weight in decisions about resource conservation and management.
The private sector uses mainly imported technologies such as purse seines for pelagic fisheries and bottom trawls for demersal fisheries. Artisanal fisheries use traditional methods with the gradual introduction of imported materials. However these materials are sometimes poorly adapted for local conditions and therefore not very efficient. As is the case in many places, the results of research in fishing technology are often not easily assimilated by the private sector. However, there is a need for more thorough investigation of technologies to catch species such as jacks and sauries. The use of deepwater longlines and trolling may also have potential and need to be researched.
The following projects are conducted through IMARPE’s Directorate General of Fisheries.
1. Experimental fishing with diversified small scale gear and methods in selected areas
More effective and diversified small scale fishing technologies could enable fishermen to increase production and target a wider range of species during different seasons, increasing the supply of fish for the domestic market. Therefore, the goal of this project is to diversify and improve small scale fishing methods and gear. The method involves experimental fishing with traditional gear and modified gear, studies of fish behavior in relation to the gear and studies of catch rates. Appropriate capture methods for deepwater and underutilized species are also being sought. During 1995 and 1996, experiments were conducted with beach seines as well as Japanese and Norwegian fish pots for deepwater species. This is a cooperative effort among IMARPE and certain universities, with an annual budget on the order of US$ 17 500. Preliminary reports have been developed, but additional testing should be done in order to produce more conclusive results.
2. Structural survey of Peruvian artisanal fisheries
Small scale fisheries produce 70% of the fish for direct human consumption in Peru. Fisheries also have great economic and social value for many coastal communities. In order to prepare the way for more effective technical support to artisanal fisheries, this project aims to compile a survey, by zone, of small scale fishing vessels, gear and methods. Survey activities began in 1995, with data compilation and analysis continuing in 1996.
3. Selectivity and efficiency of fishing gear for survey and commercial use
The goal of this project is to evaluate the selectivity and efficiency of trawl nets in order to interpret more accurately survey data for stock assessment and to regulate commercial fishing gear. The covered codend and other methods are used to determine retention rates, selectivity and other parameters. Mesh size and elongation of net panels are measured and related to the size composition of catches. During 1996 both Government research vessels and private trawlers were used. The main species of interest for this project is hake.
4. Stock assessment of pelagic and demersal resources
On a regular basis IMARPE is required to present to the Ministry of Fisheries the scientific information and recommendations on which to base resource management decisions. This is especially important for species such as anchovy, sardine and hake, whose fisheries have great social and economic impacts on the country. Assessments of underutilized species such as jacks for which future fisheries may expand are also important. Acoustic surveys are often used for estimating the abundance and location of pelagic stocks. These comprise important inputs to the development of catch quotas designed to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield. Test fishing with trawls is used to calibrate acoustic equipment, confirm species identification and size composition. For demersal species, bottom trawl surveys are more commonly used.
In pelagic fisheries, inefficient technology for on-board fish handling, preservation, transport and unloading cause significant waste of catches. More efficient utilization of the resources, and economic yields, could be improved through the renovation of vessels and machinery.
In demersal fisheries, the trawls in use are not very selective. This leads to significant bycatch and discard problems.
The accurate measurement of fishing power over time is another major challenge. Vessel horsepower and machinery are often upgraded without adequate reporting to the authorities. In time it becomes extremely difficult for scientists to know the actual fishing effort. This causes problems with stock assessments and other aspects of resource management.
Artesanal fishing technologies for capture, handling and preservation of catches are in need of upgrading. Related to this is the capture of shrimp larvae in coastal areas, which is accomplished with nets of extremely fine mesh. The concern is that these nets take not only shrimp larvae, but also the larvae of many other species which may be important for fisheries and the well-being of the ecosystem. there is a need to develop more selective methods of catching shrimp larvae, or using more larvae produced in laboratories.
There is also interest in:
