The Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Republic of Peru has approved the inclusion of a provision in an executive bill that allows for a reduction of up to 80% on administrative fines imposed on the fishing and aquaculture sectors for violations committed before 2021.
Journalist Alonso Ramos from the Ocurre Ahora portal shared this news on social media. The measure was introduced as part of a supplemental credit law on Friday.
The exceptional regime permits both individuals and legal entities holding fishing permits or licenses to benefit from this reduction, provided they pay the remaining 20% of the fine upon submitting their request. The proposal, which was discussed in the Permanent Commission on July 19, was explained by Congressman Enrique Jerà Oré, the president of the Budget Commission.
According to the new regulation, the Ministry of Production, led by Sergio González Guerrero, must issue complementary guidelines within a maximum of 30 days following the law’s publication. Interested parties will have the same timeframe to apply for the reduction, which has already sparked diverse public reactions. This is largely due to its coincidence with recent penalties imposed by the ministry on fishing vessels for illegal activities in the National Reserve of Paracas prior to 2021.
The role of the legislative body, the Budget Commission, and the Ministry of Production is pivotal in shaping the fishing and aquaculture landscape in the country. There are also pressing issues concerning the sector, such as the lack of regulation for the Artisanal Fisheries Law, approved on May 19, 2022. This law aims to protect traditional fishing within the first five nautical miles of Peru’s territorial waters.
So far, the Ministry of Production has not implemented this law, which seeks to prevent unfair competition and the over-exploitation of marine resources. Congressman Ruth Luque has highlighted that the inaction of the ministry not only demonstrates a lack of interest in enforcing Law 31749 but also stifles necessary measures to protect the rights of fishermen and preserve marine resources.
Additionally, there are concerns regarding reported illegal fishing activities in recent weeks, particularly involving Chinese vessels, amid delays in the enforcement of the aforementioned law. Organizations like the National Society of Artisanal Fishing (Sonapescal) have raised alarms regarding the entry of over 240 Chinese industrial boats into Peruvian ports without proper oversight.
Despite the Ministry of Production’s pre-publication of Resolution Ministerial N.º 286-2024-PRODUCE on July 16, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of fishing resources related to foreign vessels using Peruvian ports, this provision has yet to be fully approved. The resolution emphasizes the mandatory installation of the SISESAT device to monitor and regulate the operations of both domestic and foreign commercial vessels.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/peru/2024/07/23/congreso-comision-de-presupuesto-vota-a-favor-de-reducir-sanciones-en-el-sector-pesquero-hasta-en-un-80/
