The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) announced on Mar. 27 that artisanal fishing landings in January 2026 reached a total of 119,000 metric tons, marking an increase of 50.8 percent compared to the same month in 2025, when the figure was 79,000 metric tons.
Minister César Quispe Luján said this growth was driven by higher catches of squid (up by 418.7 percent), bonito (up by 61.5 percent), dolphinfish (up by 137.2 percent), and silverside (up by 192.5 percent) during the first month of the year.
According to PRODUCE, the top ten species from artisanal fishing include resources destined for industry—such as squid, bonito, dolphinfish, and jack mackerel—which are mainly exported; as well as those supplying wholesale markets with fresh fish like mullet, shark, machete fish, silverside, and boquichico. This supports Peruvian families and contributes to food security.
The General Office for Impact Evaluation and Economic Studies at PRODUCE reported that industrial production using hydrobiological resources from artisanal fishing increased significantly by 103.7 percent compared to January last year. The main driver was greater processing of frozen products based on squid (up by 522.6 percent), dolphinfish (up by 165.7 percent), and bonito (up by 86.6 percent).
Export value for seafood products from artisanal fisheries also rose sharply—by an estimated 527.1 percent compared to January last year—to a total of USD $98 million FOB value. This outcome reflects increases in exports of squid (up by over tenfold at +1060.4%), bonito (+351.9%), and dolphinfish (+284.7%), despite a decline in seaweed exports (-43.5%). Major export destinations included China, the United States, Spain, and South Korea.
By the end of last year it was estimated there were about 95,900 maritime artisanal fishers working mainly along Peru’s northern and central coasts; another estimated population of about 29,500 inland artisanal fishers are concentrated mostly in Amazonian departments as well as Puno and Piura.
