By John Caicedo | 2024-10-09

LIMA -- Peruvian fishermen are accusing Chinese ships of illegally fishing for jumbo squid in the nation's waters, decreasing stocks and driving up prices.

Pota or jumbo squid, a staple in the diet of Peruvian families, is now being sold in Lima supermarkets for about 26 PEN ($7) per kg -- four times what it cost at the end of September.

The price surge is driven by a squid shortage in Peru's typically abundant waters.

According to artisanal fishing organizations, the shortage is largely attributed to hundreds of Chinese vessels that brazenly enter Peruvian waters without authorization.

The shortage prompted artisanal fishermen from Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna to stage a 48-hour strike earlier this month, blocking traffic along the Pan-American Highway and the Costanera.

On October 3 and 4, they halted their operations to protest the inadequate oversight of Chinese vessels in Peruvian waters and strict fishing quotas imposed on local fishermen because of the depletion of jumbo squid.

About 300 Chinese vessels operate with little resistance within the 200-mile zone of the Peruvian sea, known as the Sea of Grau, estimate artisanal fishermen from Piura, a northern Peruvian department where the issue is most acute.

The zone is theoretically reserved for local fishermen.

The number of Chinese vessels entering Peruvian waters without permission is much higher, possibly reaching up to 700, say other sources.

These ships have massive capacity, enabling them to swiftly harvest large quantities of jumbo squid.

This phenomenon also harms other South American countries, including Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

The fishermen have accused the government of President Dina Boluarte of turning a blind eye to the issue.

"The central government has no qualms about disregarding its regulations and undermining the illegal fishing control system to prioritize accommodating foreign shipowners," the National Society of Artisanal Fishing of Peru (Sonapescal) said in a mid-September statement.

Peruvian government officials have denied that the problem exists.

The number of Chinese ships entering the area is significantly lower than claimed by the unions, Carlos Diaz, director of Coast Guard Operations, stated on Radio Programas del Perú at the beginning of September.

These vessels come with permits for three primary reasons: changing crews, addressing technical failures that necessitate forced anchoring and completing necessary documentation procedures, he said.

There is no need to enhance surveillance, as requested by the unions, he said, adding that he has no plans to implement such measures.

The Peruvian government has not only denied the significant irregular presence of Chinese ships in the Sea of Grau but attributes the decline in squid populations to meteorological factors, including the recent El Niño phenomenon.

Analysts and organizations like the leftist Colectivo Dignidad have raised questions about the government's narrative, pointing out that other species have not experienced similar declines.

They have also questioned why such drastic reductions in jumbo squid populations did not occur during previous, more severe El Niño events.

From purchase to exploitation

China was once a key buyer of Peruvian squid; however, it appears to have shifted its strategy in recent years. Between 2014 and 2015, imports of squid from Lima plummeted by 58%.

"Rather than purchasing from Peru, they are exploiting our resources and competing unfairly with the local industry," the National Society of Industries stated at the time.

Jumbo squid is a vital resource for Peru, contributing up to $750 million in exports and about 45 million kg of food per year.

Recently, the population of jumbo squid in the Sea of Grau has significantly declined, a trend that observers attribute to overexploitation, exacerbated by foreign involvement.

While this phenomenon is not new, analysts suggest it has intensified under Boluarte's administration, which favors strengthening ties with China.

China has become the largest trading partner of the South American nation and the leading investor in an economy that typically arouses little international interest.

The massive Chancay seaport project, set to launch soon in the Peruvian Pacific with an ongoing investment of $3.6 billion from China, represents a significant opportunity for revitalizing an economy that, despite demonstrating resilience and stability in recent years, still falls short of providing basic living standards for much of the population.

Beijing is pumping heavily into infrastructure projects across South America, the Outlaw Ocean Project, a Washington-based news organization that investigates human rights and environmental issues at sea, said in an October 2023 study.

"That money functions as protection against the hostility that aggressive Chinese fishing practices have generated in the region," the outlet highlighted.

Several South American countries have recently implemented regulations for Chinese and foreign fleets operating in their ports or fishing in their waters, it added.

However, "China's presence and influence in the region are clearly on the rise."

The situation now could lead to "destabilization of global food security, erosion of international law and, in some areas, heightened military tensions," Whitley Saumweber, a professor of marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island, said in the study.