Peru's second research expedition to determine the status of its anchovy stocks -- planned for Oct. 19 and 20 -- will involve 30 fishing vessels, the country's Ministry of Production (Produce) announced.
It will be held under the lead of the Instituto del Mar del Peru (Imarpe), and has the goal to find out how low the biomass really dropped, Piero Ghezzi, Peruvian minister of production, said.
The latest report released by Imarpe showed considerably lower biomass of the species, mainly due to El Nino.
Ghezzi said at this time of year there is usually a greater dispersion of the species.
Imarpe is conducting further studies and estimates, he said, adding Produce is looking to make the "best decision" for everyone involved.
"The decision will be made in the following days [after Operation Eureka], but now all options are possible," said Ghezzi.
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