Peru Increases Giant Squid Quota By Another 50,000 Tons; Catch Limit Raised To 589,200 Tons

   On July 6, Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) issued Ministerial Resolution No. 00191-2026-PRODUCE, raising the 2026 national Total Allowable Catch (LMCTP) for giant squid from 539,230 tons to 589,230 tons-an increase of 50,000 tons. This marks the third time this year that Peru has raised its annual catch limit.

   Under the latest regulations, the remaining catchable volume for the period from July 6 to December 31, 2026, stands at 68,218 tons. This adjustment applies to commercial fishing vessels holding valid fishing permits. A review of this year's quota adjustments shows that the Peruvian government initially announced an annual giant squid quota of 479,000 tons in May, raised it to 539,230 tons in June, and-following this latest 50,000-ton increase-brought the total annual quota to 589,230 tons. This represents a cumulative increase of 110,230 tons (over 23%) since the beginning of the year, serving as another positive signal from Peru to the international squid market.

Scientific Assessment Drives Another Quota Increase
   This quota adjustment is not merely an increase in fishing scale but is based on the latest resource assessment results. Produce stated that the decision relied primarily on multiple scientific assessment reports submitted by the Marine Institute of Peru (IMARPE), including technical documents such as 000017-2026-IMARPE/GC, 1034-2026-IMARPE/PE, and 1165-2026-IMARPE/PE. IMARPE's previous assessments estimated the average Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) for giant squid resources to be approximately 539,230 tons, a figure falling within the 95% confidence interval. Subsequently, at the request of the Peruvian authorities responsible for fisheries and aquaculture policy, researchers recommended adopting an intermediate value-falling between the mean estimate and the upper limit of the confidence interval-as the management target, provided that risks remain controllable and the principle of sustainable utilization is upheld. This recommendation resulted in the new annual quota of 589,230 tonnes. IMARPE emphasized that Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) should serve merely as a specific management tool within an adaptive management framework; continuous resource monitoring remains essential, with a focus on changes in population size, biological indicators, and reproductive status, allowing for the timely adjustment of management measures based on resource dynamics.

Exclusive Quota Retained for Small-Scale Artisanal Vessels
   In addition to the commercial fleet, the resolution maintains exclusive fishing arrangements for the artisanal sector. Regulations stipulate that artisanal vessels with a hold capacity of less than 10 cubic meters are permitted to catch 98,411 tonnes between March 27 and December 31, 2026; this allocation is included within the national total quota of 589,230 tonnes. Of this amount, 12,800 tonnes are available for the period from July 6 through the end of the year. The Peruvian government stated that relevant authorities, in collaboration with local governments and the Coast Guard, will strengthen oversight of the new quota's implementation to ensure that all vessel categories operate in strict compliance with regulations.
Shifts in Global Supply Expectations
   Peru is one of the world's largest producers of jumbo flying squid and a key source of raw material for Chinese squid processing enterprises. In recent years, a significant portion of the *Dosidicus gigas* (jumbo flying squid) raw material imported by China has originated from Peruvian waters; fluctuations in these stocks directly impact international market supply and price trends. Peru has raised its annual catch limit three times this year, reflecting a relatively positive assessment of the resource status by scientific agencies. The increase from 479,000 tonnes to 589,230 tonnes implies a further rise in available supply for the international market during the second half of the year. However, an increased annual quota does not guarantee that the actual catch will reach that limit. Jumbo flying squid are a highly migratory species; actual catch results are influenced by factors such as the marine environment, sea temperature fluctuations, resource distribution, and fleet operational efficiency. The primary significance of this quota hike lies in the signal sent by Peruvian authorities regarding their optimism about current resource levels, which helps the market gauge expectations for raw material supply. However, entering the second half of the year, the international market's primary focus will remain on actual landing volumes, the pace of exports, and purchasing activity within the Chinese market. If actual fishing operations keep pace, the impact of this quota increase on the global supply of jumbo flying squid will gradually become apparent; conversely, should the distribution of the resource shift, the final annual output could still diverge from the theoretical quota.