In sharp contrast to 2010, catches during 2011 have improved considerably, in particular during the second quarter as the season in Chile and Peru got under way.

According to the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization (IFFO), for the first five months of 2011, raw material use by IFFO members  increased 50% overall, in particular in Peru, which saw a rise of 149%. Usage in Chile, the second largest oil producer was only moderately up on 2010.  The situation in the North Atlantic was slightly down on 2010, whereas South Africa saw raw material use fall 20%. Peruvian catches by mid July had reached 4.5 million tonnes compared with only 2.7 million tonnes during 2010. Oil yields, however, are somewhat lower this year. The quota in the Peruvian North/Central fishing zone has now been reached (3 675 000 tonnes).

By mid-July, only 129 000 tonnes of the quota in the Peruvian Southern zone of 400 000 tonnes had been landed but this will change soon as the fleet moves south. In Chile, by mid-July, fishing in the Northern zone was positive with 860 000 tonnes landed compared with 630 000 tonnes in 2010. Catches in Chile’s Southern zone were on par with last year at 1 115 000 tonnes. In the USA, fishing for menhaden has been good both in the Gulf and in the Atlantic.  Read report at FAO Globefish.