Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture: practices, sustainability and implications

Status and trends on the use of small pelagic fish species in Peru 329

TABLE 3

Industrial-scale fish processing capacity in Peru

Activity No. of plants Installed capacity

Fishmeal

Special meal 48 3 277 tonnes/hour

Standard meal 78 5 661 tonnes/hour

Residual meal 24 155 tonnes/hour

Processed products

Canned 87 191 840 boxes/shift

Frozen 95 3 557 tonnes/day

Cured 17 1 592 tonnes/month

Source: PRODUCE (2001, 2002, 2003a, 2004, 2005, 2006a)

2. STATUS OF AND TRENDS IN SMALL PELAGIC FISH LANDINGS
   The Peruvian marine ecosystem is characteristically a system of intense and highly
   productive coastal upwelling with water rich in nutrients. This allows the development
   of a large fish biomass, especially in the pelagic neritic environment, as is the case
   for anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), which sustains 90 percent of the national fisheries.
   Other important species are Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), chub mackerel
   (Scomber japonicus), sardine or South American pilchard (Sardinops sagax), South
   Pacific hake (Merluccius gayi gayi), jumbo flying squid (Dosidicus gigas), common
   dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and Peruvian scallop (Argopecten purpuratus).
   The oceanographic conditions off the Peruvian coast show seasonal cyclic variations
   and high variability associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the
   Pacific Ocean. These characteristics of the Peruvian waters mainly affect the pelagic
   resources, altering their biological behaviour and their populations, the anchoveta
   being one of the most sensitive species.

2.1 Stocks
Recruitment has shown to be an important factor affecting anchoveta biomass
variability in Peruvian waters. In general, strong recruitment is associated with cold
oceanographic conditions. The higher recruitment months in the north-central stock
occur from November to January and May to July, while recruitment in the south
Peru–north Chile stock is observed from November to March (Pauly and Tsukayama,
1987).
Recruitment levels for the anchoveta stock showed a general upward trend until
1993, registering two peaks in 1987 and 1993, with levels that exceeded 4.5 million
tonnes. These strong annual classes facilitated the recovery of the stock, reinforcing the
spawning stock structure. However, recruitment during the period from 1994 to 1997

FIGURE 4

Landings by use, 2005

Source: PRODUCE (2001, 2002, 2003a, 2004,

2005, 2006a)

Foodfish

8%

Feedfish

92%