📋 Tender Overview
The Institute of the Sea of Peru (IMARPE) completed the second stage of a specialized scientific evaluation aimed at detecting the possible presence of invasive exotic species in the Port of Callao, the main maritime terminal in the country and one of the most sensitive points regarding the entry of marine organisms associated with international maritime traffic.
The activity took place between December 17 and 23, 2025 and had the strategic support of the National Port Authority (APN). As a result, detailed scientific information on the port area was obtained for the first time, which will allow establishing a biological baseline, a fundamental tool to strengthen surveillance, prevention and management of invasive species in the countrys ports.
During the evaluation, IMARPE specialists removed passive sampling devices known as settlement plates, previously installed at the Callao Port Terminal and at the Peruvian Naval Academy. These devices remained submerged for three months, following standardized scientific protocols at a regional level, which allows for the early detection of organisms that adhere to artificial surfaces under the sea.
The collected samples are being analyzed in IMARPE laboratories to identify marine species that are not part of the local ecosystem. Likewise, sampling of organisms that inhabit the seabed (benthic communities) was carried out in different types of habitats in the port, such as soft and hard bottoms, both natural and artificial, which can facilitate the arrival and establishment of invasive species.
This initiative also had the support of the Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guard (DICAPI), as well as the collaboration of the companies APM Terminals and Transportadora Callao, strengthening the articulated work between the State and the port sector.
Biological monitoring in ports is essential to care for marine biodiversity, since it allows the arrival of species that do not belong to our ecosystems and that could affect native species to be identified in time. Detecting them early helps prevent damage to the sea, protects activities such as fishing and aquaculture, and avoids long-term economic and environmental impacts. With this work, IMARPE contributes to maintaining healthy seas and protecting marine resources that are part of the countrys well-being and food security.
