El viceministro de Pesca y Acuicultura, Jesús Barrientos tiene por delante un desafío 'cultural' con los pescadores artesanales

Peru's Giant Squid Dilemma: Balancing Conservation and Artisanal Fishing Traditions

PERU
Monday, July 14, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

While PRODUCE pushes for science-based conservation measures for the giant squid (pota), the decision to implement a fishing ban is creating tension with artisanal fishermen, who see their traditional way of life and income threatened by not being able to fish "when they want." The government is calling for dialogue and a "cultural shift" to ensure the future of both the resource and the families.

LIMA – Peru's Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) finds itself balancing the urgency of scientific conservation with the deeply ingrained traditions of thousands of artisanal fishermen. The recent implementation of a technical ban on giant squid, or "pota" (Dosidicus gigas), has sparked strong protests from the sector, highlighting the paradox between resource sustainability and the immediate income needs of fishing communities.

Artisanal fishing for giant squid requires significant physical effort.

The Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jesús Barrientos, along with his IMARPE technical team, has held intensive meetings with leaders of artisanal fishing guilds across the country. The objective is to explain the vital importance of the ban, which took effect on June 30 after the Total Allowable Catch Limit (LMCTP) for the resource was reached.

Fragile Recovery Meets Record Extraction

Barrientos emphasized that the measure aims to conserve the pota for future fishing seasons. "In 2023, we had one of the lowest pota fishing seasons in the last decade, due to the El Niño 2023-2024 event. This year, in just six months, we have reached the catch limit of approximately 420,000 metric tons. That's why we must act responsibly and prevent a scenario that could compromise the resource available for 2026," he stated.

Fishermen and other segments of the activity such as stevedoring, ice sales, transportation, etc. also need the activity to continue over time and not be interrupted by biological shutdowns.

IMARPE has technically supported this decision, indicating that while the resource is recovering, the extraction rate has been very high, necessitating immediate action. "We want to ensure that pota continues to be a source of employment and income for thousands of families. Responsible fishing is a shared task between the State and the fishermen. We are listening to their concerns and working based on scientific evidence to guarantee the future of the resource," Barrientos affirmed.

The Paradox: Conservation or Livelihood?

For artisanal fishermen, the imposed ban represents a direct disruption to their livelihoods and income, a tradition that has historically allowed them to decide when and where to fish to support their families. This clash between quota-based management and biological cycles, and the daily socioeconomic reality of these communities, lies at the heart of the paradox. While they acknowledge the long-term importance of the resource, the immediate need to fish for subsistence collides with preventative measures.

Charter from the fishing operations stations of Operation Giant Squid I – OCG-I and the vessels and professionals participating in Operation Giant Squid I – OCG-I.  Source: IMARPE

The meetings included various stakeholders from the fishing sector, such as the National Society of Industries and fishing guilds from the north, center, and south of the country, as well as a meeting with Congresswoman María Cruz Zeta and fishermen from Piura. Fishing representatives highlighted the sector's openness to dialogue and agreed on the need to strengthen inspection, satellite control, the fight against illegal fishing, and promote self-regulation. However, the tension over how to reconcile conservation with the survival of thousands of families persists.

"Operation Giant Squid III": Science in Action

With the aim of obtaining updated scientific information to enable more flexible and adapted management decisions, the Peruvian Sea Institute (IMARPE) will conduct Operation Giant Squid III between July 21 and the first days of August. This research will cover the northern, central, and southern areas of the Peruvian coast up to mile 150.

Size structure of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) in Operation Giant Squid I – OCG-I. Source: IMARPE

The operation will involve 25 artisanal vessels with valid fishing permits, each with a scientific observer on board. 500 sampling stations will be conducted to analyze the abundance of the resource, its population structure, reproductive maturity status, and oceanographic conditions.

The results of this operation will be crucial for defining the fisheries management measures that could be applied for the remainder of 2025, and for 2026, it will be complemented by a scientific research cruise beginning in November. PRODUCE thus reiterates its commitment to fishing based on science, traceability, sustainability, and coordinated work with the sector's main stakeholders, seeking a path that, while challenging, allows for the coexistence of fishing tradition and the vital conservation of the giant squid.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Print