The Ministry of Production held a working session and dialogue table with organizations of artisanal fishers from the Southern Macro Region at the CITE Pesquero de Ilo, aiming to address key sector demands and advance solutions for sustainable fisheries management, according to a March 21 announcement.
This meeting was led by Minister of Production César Quispe Luján, who said that the administration maintains an open-door policy. “Our administration, on behalf of President José María Balcázar, is a field-based administration. We listen to the fisher so that the science from the Instituto del Mar del Perú and regulations from the Ministry respond to the reality of each cove,” Quispe Luján said.
Participants included Congressman Edwin Martínez, Vice Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Jesús Barrientos, Moquegua regional director Paola Castro, and representatives from artisanal fishing organizations in Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. During the event, Quispe Luján reiterated the ministry’s commitment to work together with these groups to strengthen fisheries management and ensure sustainable use of marine resources.
Quispe Luján announced that PRODUCE is developing new regulations tailored for vessels extracting squid in southern Peru. The aim is to address specific needs of local artisanal fleets and improve access conditions for fishers in this area. He also recognized artisanal fishers’ commitment to resource sustainability and their concern for strengthening funding for IMARPE (Instituto del Mar del Perú), which he described as a key scientific body for fisheries management decisions.
Representatives from shellfish extractors also presented their situation during the session. In response, Quispe Luján reported that IMARPE will issue a technical report next week on shellfish stocks; based on this report, extraction authorizations will be evaluated. The minister added that regulatory frameworks will continue being strengthened—including projects excluding vessels with repeated violations—and highlighted ongoing work on shark fisheries management rules.
As part of his agenda in Tacna region, Quispe Luján visited Morro Sama fishing dock—managed by Tacna’s regional government—to hear directly from local fishers about infrastructure conditions and challenges they face. He also met with Moquegua’s regional governor to discuss pending sector issues and strategies for boosting local productive development. Discussions included progress on approval processes for Las Enfermeras fishing dock profile and planned improvements at Ilo dock.
The regional government expressed interest in hosting an upcoming National Pisco Contest edition as part of efforts to promote this emblematic product locally. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue with southern artisanal fishers toward building solutions supporting sustainable fisheries development and improving livelihoods along Peru’s southern coast.
