Peru modifies regulations for Samasa anchovy exploratory fishing

Peru's Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) has updated regulations for the exploratory fishing of white anchovy, known as Samasa (Anchoa nasus), to ensure resource sustainability. The new rules, established via Ministerial Resolution N.° 00368-2026-PRODUCE, mandate that participating vessels report all catches to the Ministry using electronic logbooks and satellite tracking systems.

To protect the black anchovy (Engraulis ringens) population, the exploratory fishing phase must conclude once incidental catches of black anchovy reach limits determined by the Institute of the Sea of Peru (IMARPE). Scientific assessments suggest prioritizing Samasa extraction from Pacasmayo northward, where availability is higher and black anchovy presence is lower.

Industrial wooden fleet fishers have reported catching mature Samasa specimens exceeding 11.5 cm in Bayóvar, surpassing the legal minimum size of 9.5 cm. These findings occur amid anomalous sea surface temperatures of 25.5 °C, conditions linked to the distribution changes of black anchovy ahead of the projected 2026-2027 El Niño phenomenon.