Peru's Economy
Anchovies and Fishmeal
How Peru's anchoveta fishery is one of the world's largest, how it feeds global fish farming as fishmeal, and how El Niño disrupts catches.
Peru has one of the world’s largest fisheries.
Anchoveta
The Peruvian anchoveta thrives in the cold Humboldt Current.
Fishmeal
Most is turned into fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture and animal feed worldwide.
El Niño
El Niño warms waters and drives anchovies away, collapsing catches, as in 1972-73 and 2023.
Quotas
Peru introduced individual vessel quotas in 2009, ending a race to fish.
Economics
Quotas turned overfishing into managed harvests.
The cancelled season
In 2023, Peru cancelled its first anchovy season due to El Niño, hitting fishmeal exports.
Thinking most anchovies are eaten by people
Most become fishmeal.
Key takeaways
- Peru's anchoveta fishery is huge.
- Most becomes fishmeal.
- El Niño disrupts catches.
- Quotas since 2009 reduced the race to fish.
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