on Wednesday reported that the landings of fishery resources experienced a significant increase during 2021 compared to 2020, even exceeding pre-pandemic levels, despite the impacts of COVID-19 on Peru's economic activities and the unfavorable oceanographic conditions recorded during the second half of last year.
The government official stressed that in 2021 the landings of marine resources totaled 6.582 million metric tons (MT), 14.7% higher than in 2020 and 35.4% greater than in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
"We are seeing that the results of this sector have been positive in terms of anchovy fishing destined for the fishmeal industry, as well as in terms of resources extracted for the canning and freezing industry. Therefore, we are confident that the recovery will continue this year if the oceanographic conditions normalize," he specified.
The Cabinet member affirmed that in 2021 the extractive activity aimed at indirect human consumption amounted to 5.17 million MT —a growth of 19.7% compared to 2020 and 52.9% over 2019, whose volume was 3.38 million MT.
This result is due to the opening of fishing in the southern zone, since no fishery activity was recorded in that area in 2020.
Among the main ports, where anchovy landings for indirect human consumption increased in 2021, were: Chimbote (21.4%), Pisco (150.4%), Callao (36.2%), Tambo de Mora (47.6%), and Chancay (38.1%).
Direct human consumption
On the other hand, fishing for direct human consumption registered a slight decrease (-0.6%) in 2021, whose landings amounted to 1.41 million MT. This was due to a reduction in the fishing of mackerel, horse mackerel, and mullet, among others.
Said behavior was attenuated by the increase in the extraction of resources destined for the frozen (1%) and canned (2.3%) industry, favored by normal oceanographic conditions during the first half of 2021.
Production value
In terms of production value, the fishing sector registered an increase of 2.8% compared to 2020 and 7.1% over 2019 (pre-pandemic).
This result is explained by the increase in the production value of anchovy aimed at indirect human consumption (19.7%), despite having been attenuated by the decrease in the value of fishing resources destined for direct human consumption (-9.6%).