They affirm that fishing is compatible in protected areas

The former Minister of the Environment Juan Carlos Castro maintained that fishing activity is compatible with the protected natural areas (ANP), as long as its sustainability is evaluated and it is confirmed if it existed before the creation of these spaces. This was stated in the RPP News Extension program, where he also addressed the country’s environmental challenges and the need for greater public debate around these issues.

Oil and gas companies paid US$916.8 million to the Peruvian State for the use of resources.

Castro recalled that Peru has great biological diversity, as well as more than 67 million hectares of forests that can be integrated into market mechanisms aimed at the conservation and development of communities. In this framework, he stated that terrestrial and marine protected areas must be managed with technical criteria that define what activities are compatible with their conservation.

Regarding the marine area, the former minister mentioned that the creation of new areas is accompanied by evaluation processes that must determine what uses can be maintained.

“Fishing is compatible with protected areas, but we have to see if this fishing was carried out or not before creating it,” he noted. He added that, if the fishing activity already existed, it is necessary to establish why it was excluded and if it is possible to maintain it without affecting conservation objectives.

Paracas

Castro gave as an example the Paracas National Reserve, where industrial fishing has historically been developed. He explained that some regulatory changes and adjustments in the master plans modified the permitted uses, which generated tensions between the fishing sector and environmental authorities. Therefore, it was considered necessary to review the information and make it clear in which areas these activities were authorized.

During the interview, he also highlighted the urgency of discussing carbon and biodiversity markets in international forums, such as the COP, and regretted that the electoral agenda is not addressing in sufficient depth the impact of glacial retreat and water management, issues that he described as central for the country.

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