Announced by the Peruvian authorities, the commercial fishing season for anchovy and white anchovy is set to open today, 16 April 2024, with a fixed quota of 2.475 million tonnes, according to IFFO - an aquafeed ingredients organisation.
The beginning of the anchovy season, as well as the quota set by the authorities, are of utmost significance to the aquaculture and fisheries industries, as anchovy is a key ingredient in the production of fishmeal for aquafeeds, for which Peru accounts for 20 percent of production globally.
“The industry is positive about this quota, which signals a rebound after last year’s quotas at respectively 1.09 million tonnes (first season, cancelled due to the repercussions of the El Nino event) and 1.68 million tonnes (second season),” said IFFO market research director Dr Enrico Bachis, in a press release.
Based on analysis of IFFO membership, which accounts for 55 percent of global marine ingredient production, raw material use during February 2024 has increased by 20 percent compared to the same period for the previous year, across selected countries. At the same time, however, global fish meal production during the first two months of 2024 showed a decrease compared to the same period during 2023.
“Such a decline was primarily influenced by a significant decrease of around 80 percent in Peru, where January 2023 still saw significant landings due to the second fishing season of the year 2022. On the contrary, the early commencement of the second fishing season in Peru's North-Central region in 2023 left less catch available for the start of 2024,” explained Bachis.
Whilst the cumulative trends for fishmeal production have been comparatively negative during the first part of 2024, countries such as Chile, Denmark, and Norway have been showing an increase in production, whilst Chile remains the only country recording a positive trend for fish oil production, compared to the beginning of 2023.
Despite the early setbacks in 2024, increased production in countries like Chile, Denmark, and Norway, alongside Chile's positive trend in fish oil production, may balance the scales as the year progresses.
