The Peruvian anchovy fishing industry was recognized as one of the most efficient globally in terms of environmental sustainability, according to a life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by Austral Group together with the Peruvian Network of Life Cycle and Industrial Ecology (PELCAN).
The study provides new knowledge about the marine ingredient industry, becoming the most recent update on analysis methodologies, information quality, and availability.
"This study is a contribution to the scientific literature that reinforces the importance of anchovy fishing in the global context as one of the most sustainable protein sources. We continue to bet on science and the implementation of technologies that allow us to advance towards an even more efficient and environmentally friendly fishing model," emphasized Adriana Giudice, CEO of Austral Group.
The study is the first of its kind in terms of the depth of analysis of the entire production chain, from fishing to export.
Results
The study used as sample the fleet and processing plants of fishmeal and fish oil from Austral Group S.A.A. as a representative company in this sector. It highlights the progress and good practices implemented in the industry, positioning Peru as a benchmark in responsible and sustainable fishing.
The study shows that the Peruvian fishing and fishmeal production activity has a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to that of other ingredients for aquaculture feed production globally, such as fish by-products, Brazilian soy, and poultry byproducts, as well as that of other fisheries focused on fishmeal and fish oil production.
Another aspect highlighted by the study is that anchovy fishing has a reduced emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), emitting considerably less CO₂ per kilogram of product compared to other ingredient sources for feed production, given the reduction of the fleet and the relatively shorter distance vessels travel for its extraction.
Regarding the anchovy processing stage, the research confirms that the change to the natural gas energy matrix has generated a significant reduction in GHG emissions compared to the use of diesel and R500 measured in previous studies.
Finally, the analysis confirms that the implementation of rigorous management based on quotas and fishing bans has contributed to the conservation of anchovy biomass, ensuring the sustainability of the resource in the long term.
Reference:
Alejandro Deville, Ian Vázquez-Rowe, Angel Avadí, Fernando Miranda, Ramzy Kahhat. Identifying current trends in the environmental impacts linked to fishmeal and fish oil production in Peru, Aquaculture, Volume 600, 2025, 742239, ISSN 0044-8486, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742239
