Peru's Squid Season Concludes
Dec 22, 2025
Leave a message
As 2025 draws to a close, the Peruvian jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) fishing season is entering its final stages. Reports from major ports such as Paita indicate that the last fishing vessels have departed for sea, with the average size of the caught squid being approximately 10 kilograms, marking the imminent conclusion of this year's fishing activities.
According to the latest Ministerial Resolution No. 000415-2025-PRODUCE issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), the supplementary quota for 2025 was 38,859 tons. However, due to good catches, this quota has been largely fulfilled. Official documents clearly stipulate that if the actual catch exceeds the limit, the 2026 quota will be used in advance, and compensatory measures will be implemented. This means that artisanal fishing vessels that have not yet completed three fishing trips can continue fishing until December 31st, as the quota restrictions have been eased.
A recent survey cruise (No. 2511-12) conducted by the Peruvian Marine Institute (IMARPE) revealed a large number of squid individuals smaller than 25 centimeters in length, indicating a healthy population replenishment in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a successful reproductive cycle. This finding suggests that the overall squid resources will remain healthy in 2026. However, the quality of the squid landed recently has significantly declined. Local processing plants report that the latest batches of squid are mostly individuals that have just finished spawning, with thin flesh and soft skin. After processing, they easily form "watery slices," resulting in a noticeable decline in quality compared to previous batches. This change is making processing companies more cautious in their purchasing and export activities, which may put some pressure on prices in the short term.