LIMA, Peru (AP) — Nine commercial fishermen died and three were missing after two trawlers collided off Peru’s central coast, capsizing one of the vessels officials said Tuesday.

A navy spokesman, Capt. Colver Ruiz, said the collision occurred just after midnight Monday about 13 nautical miles from the port city of Pisco. He said all 15 crewmen on the Marisol II were thrown into the sea when it capsized, and the three who were rescued had nearly drowned.

Ruiz said the incident was under investigation.

He said both 15-meter (50-foot) trawlers were fishing for anchoveta, which is mostly processed into fishmeal for export. The boat that remained afloat belongs to Tasa, the world’s No. 1 producer of fishmeal.

Peru’s coastal waters are the world’s leading source of anchoveta, a type of anchovy that is the most heavily exploited fish in history.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.