Fish landings by species between January and September 2009. (Graph: Produce)

Seafood landings slip slighty

PERU
Thursday, November 19, 2009, 03:10 (GMT + 9)

Peruvian ports received a total of 91,800 tonnes of seafood last September, 4.4 per cent down in volume from the 96,000 tonnes registered in the same month of 2008.

This decline was the product of fewer species landings allocated to the canned (34 per cent) and frozen products (10.5 per cent) industries, reveals the latest Statistical Bulletin authored by the Ministry of Production (Produce).

In the case of the frozen seafood industry, the decrease was influenced mainly by the decline of giant squid, anchovy, and hake resources, the volumes of which were inferior: 6,943 tonnes, 871 tonnes and 374 tonnes, respectively.

Upon closer inspection, landings fell 5.6 per cent in the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period last year, that is, from 4.9 million tonnes to 4.6 million tonnes.

The decline is mainly reflected in decreased landings for the frozen products, fishmeal and canning industries, given the reduction in landings of anchovy, jack mackerel, giant squid, mahi-mahi, skipjack tuna and striped mullet, among other species.

According to Produce, 2,600 tonnes of seafood resources were allocated to the fishmeal and fish oil industries in September, 23.8 per cent more than the 2,100 tonnes unloaded in the same month last year.

The first nine months registered 3.7 million tonnes of fish resources for indirect consumption, 4.5 per cent less than the 3.9 million tonnes in the same 2008 period.

In terms of direct human consumption, 89,200 tonnes of fish resources were landed in September, against 93,900 tonnes in September 2008.

Throughout the first nine months of 2009, a total of 907,000 tonnes of resources were allocated for direct consumption, 9.5 per cent less than last year’s 1 million tonnes.

Some 45,400 tonnes of fish were landed for frozen product production last September, whereas 50,700 tonnes had been landed for the category in the same month of 2008.

The frozen fish industry utilised 423,500 tonnes of seafood resources between January and September, compared to the previous year’s total of 518,100 tonnes for the same period, an 18.3 per cent decrease. Fewer landings of giant squid, jack mackerel and mahi mahi, among other species, were behind the fall.

Canned industry resources in September totalled 9,300 tonnes, 34 per cent less than the 14,100 tonnes utilised in the same month last year.

A 23.2 per cent drop in the resources used by the canning industry was registered between January and September: 133,400 tonnes, against 173,800 tonnes in the same 2008 period.

Fresh fish landings directed to direct human consumption totalled 31,100 tonnes in September, 20.1 per cent more compared to the 25,900 tonnes unloaded in the same month last year. This growth was attributed to greater volumes of mahi mahi, comber, squid, butterfish and skipjack tuna.

Finally, 317,900 tonnes of fresh seafood resources were allocated for consumption in the first nine months of the year, 14.8 per cent over the 227,000 tonnes allocated last year. This hike was spurred mainly by higher landings of mackerel, giant squid, lorna, silverside, Peruvian weakfish and mussels.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

 PRODUCE -Ministerio de la Producción-

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