Peruvian fisheries giant Pesquera Exalmar harvested a record amount of anchovy as it completed its full quota for the first season in north central waters.

The record haul for the company of 102,000 metric tons was 47 percent higher than for the same season in 2019.

[READ: CEO of Peruvian fishing giant blasts anchovy quota-fixing probe as 'a political move']

Under strict health protocols Peruvian fishing and processing companies adopted preventive and protective measures necessary to minimize the risk of the coronavirus contagion.

These measures has helped Exalmar keep its processing plants running uninterrupted at peak time for the company.

Despite a delayed start to the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Peruvian fleet managed to land its full 2.41-million-metric-ton quota.

At the beginning of the season, expectations were for landings between 1.5-1.8 million metric tons, amid the presence of continued high juvenile numbers.

Strict lockdown conditions and a nighttime curfew aimed at tackling COVID-19 added to concerns as they made it impossible to carry out maintenance to fishing vessels.