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

Status and trends on the use of small pelagic fish species in Peru 341

of small-scale artisanal companies engaged in the production of salt-cured fish, known
as “la saladita”. Most of these plants are located in the north and their products are
directed to social programmes.

5. DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION
   AND EXPORT PATTERNS
   In Peru, 8.2 percent of the landings
   (771 600 tonnes in 2005) sustain
   the processing industry dedicated
   to direct human consumption. In
   2006, the freezing industry was the
   most active, using 41.8 percent of
   the landings for direct consumption,
   most of the production being
   dedicated to the export markets
   (Figure 12).
   Fresh/chilled fish is mainly
   used for domestic (household)
   consumption, representing
   66 percent of the landings for
   foodfish, followed by the canned
   industry with 18.7 percent and the
   freezing industry with 9.3 percent, which are directed to both household and export
   markets.

5.1 Per capita consumption in Peru
According to the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) published by the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2007), the per capita
worldwide supply reached 16.5 kg per year. In Peru, the average consumption of the
last few years is nearly 20 kg per year (Table 13). Fresh fish is the main component
of the per capita fish supply in Peru, representing 63 percent. Canned and frozen fish
represent approximately 15 percent, while cured fish represent just 6 percent.

TABLE 13
Per capita consumption of fish products in Peru, 2000–2005

Year Consumption (kg/person/year)

Canned fish Frozen fish Cured fish Fresh fish Total

2000 4.0 1.2 1.9 14.1 21.2

2001 3.4 2.2 1.7 15.1 22.4

2002 1.7 2.7 1.5 13.1 19.0

2003 3.8 1.9 1.3 13.6 20.6

2004 2.6 2.7 1.1 13.9 20.3

2005 3.1 2.8 1.1 11.9 18.9

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

5.1.1 Fresh fish
Fresh fish are mainly used for household consumption. In 2005, 285 947 tonnes of
fish were consumed in fresh form, the main species being jack mackerel, jumbo flying
squid, common dolphinfish and chub mackerel (Figure 13) and accounted for
53.5 percent of total landings. Demand for fresh fish, which is mainly supplied along
the coast, has shown a regular and sustained trend over the last few years. Most of the
fish consumed fresh are pelagic and of low cost. This factor is critical in determining the
preference of consumers. There is also a small market for white-flesh fish, characterized
by its shortage and high price, which make it inaccessible to the low-income group.

FIGURE 12

Domestic consumption and exports

of pelagic fish in Peru

Source: PRODUCE (2006a)

Domestic consumption

Thousand tonnes

Exports

Fresh Canned Frozen Cured

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0