The age limit for granting credits to artisanal fishermen and aquaculturists is extended to 67 years

The National Fisheries Development Fund (FONDEPES), attached to the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), extended the age limit for the delivery of credits to artisanal fishermen and aquaculturists to 67 years. Previously, the maximum age to access this service was 65 years.

Thus, the new FONDEPES Credit Management Regulations (REG-002-FONDEPES-V.01), recently approved, specify that one of the conditions to access this service is to be over 18 years old and under 67 years old.

The document also details the amounts that applicants can access depending on the type of activity they carry out. In this way, both on-board and non-board fishermen can access credits of up to 1 UIT (S/ 5,150), which can be paid in a maximum of 18 monthly installments.

Artisanal fish processors can request up to 3 UIT (S/15,450) in a first loan and up to 4 UIT (S/20,600) in a second or third, with a maximum term of 18 monthly installments. While artisanal shipowners and aquaculture farmers can request amounts of up to 7 UIT (S/36,050), 10 UIT (S/51,500) and 22 UIT (S/113,300) in their first, second or third credit, respectively, with a term of up to 36 months to pay.

In the case of aquaculture credits, the grace period was also extended to six months, which was previously considered only four months. The current Regulation details that this facility will be applied in the first months of the credit.

The standard also indicates the types of credit programs offered by FONDPES. He ordinary, on a permanent basis, which includes the Credit Program for Artisanal Fishing and the Credit Program for Aquaculture and the extraordinary, on a temporary basis to serve artisanal fishermen or aquaculturists of the AREL and AMYPE categories in exceptional or emergency situations, declared by the corresponding authority. This program will be prepared by the General Directorate of Projects and Financial Management for Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (DIGEPROFIN) of FONDEPES.