Peru calls off its second 2026 anchovy season in the north-central zone

Peru will not hold a second anchoveta season this year in its north-central zone. The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) announced the decision Oct. 16. It cited the latest scientific survey by the Peruvian Marine Research Institute (IMARPE).

IMARPE’s Cruise 2609-10, with data through Oct. 7, estimated the acoustic biomass at about 5.12 million tonnes. That is 27.9% lower than the summer 2026 estimate and 22.8% below the 1996–2025 average for winter-spring surveys. Juveniles made up 79% of the fish by number and 65% by weight. Spawning activity was below normal, though IMARPE still recorded spawning between Chimbote and Pisco. The institute also found unusually warm ocean conditions. The anchovy moved closer to the coast and shifted south, and the schools went much deeper.

“The high presence of juveniles and current sea conditions require us to act prudently,” Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos said in the release, as translated. PRODUCE says IMARPE will keep monitoring the stock and will also look at other species that do well in warm water, such as samasa. SeafoodSource notes that Peru supplies up to 20% of the world’s fishmeal and fish oil. It adds that IFFO expects 2026 supply to fall to near-decade lows.

Photo: PRODUCE (Ministry of Production of Peru).

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: PRODUCE — PRODUCE no autoriza segunda temporada de anchoveta en la zona norte-centro (press release in Spanish, Oct. 16, 2026). Market context: SeafoodSource — Peru officially cancels the second anchovy season of 2026 (Chris Chase, Oct. 16, 2026).