One of the most important fisheries in the world, the Peruvian anchovy fishery, launched this week its Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) to get a “certifiable status” according to the guidelines of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS).
This purse seine fishery accounts for up to 6 million tones in a regular year, which are mostly used to make fishmeal and fish oil.
The FIP was launched after the signature of a memorandum of understanding between the Peruvian National Fisheries Society (SNP) and the Center for Development and Sustainable Fisheries (CeDePesca). This FIP will be developed in parallel (and coordinated) with another one for the direct human consumption part of the fishery.
“The industrial anchovy fishery is very well managed and controlled: a recent report by OECD highlights the controls of the fishery and the World Bank has recently issued a report and video putting this fishery as an example. Of course, we have some challenges, which we will address with this FIP”, said Elena Conterno, chairperson of the SNP. “We are very happy of launching this project together with CeDePesca”.
The Action Plan for the FIP includes an update of the former pre-assessment against the MSC standard, an evaluation of the trophic impacts of the fishery, the improvement of controls for the small-scale fleet and a better understanding of the direct impacts on other species, through a private on board observers program.
“CeDePesca is very proud of being called by the SNP to implement this FIP,” said Ernesto Godelman, CEO of CeDePesca. “I am really optimistic that in the short term we will achieve our common goal and I feel that all of our partners have the firm decision to improve whatever the gap analysis reveals as a weakness in the fishery.\"
The Viceministry of Fisheries (PRODUCE), through its top authority, Admiral Hector Soldi, committed its full support to the project and a joint committee, conformed by PRODUCE, SNP and CeDePesca is starting to coordinate the work.
At the same time, feed producers Skretting and Cargill Nutrition have stated its strong support to the FIP and will participate in the steering committee.
Steven Rafferty, Managing Director of Skretting, said: “Skretting has long valued its excellent relationship with Peru’s anchoveta fishery and the country’s feed ingredients industry. The fishery has always been an important source of high-quality, sustainable marine ingredients for the aquaculture sector. We are therefore delighted to be supporting this fishery improvement project, which builds upon the responsible management systems already in place in order to successfully fulfil the future demand for these raw materials while also meeting the highest sustainability assurances required within the global market.”
“The Peruvian fishery is one of the most important fisheries which we use in aquaculture, but also it has great significance for global ecosystems. It has been well managed by the Government of Peru, but in this age of globalization there is increased requirements for transparency, especially for issues concerning environmental and social sustainability.
Cargill Aqua Nutrition applauds SNP for leading the formation of this Fisheries Improvement Program (FIP) and building the coalition which will work with key stakeholders to work to improve the status of the fishery and transparency of its management. \"This will enable it to meet the highest standards of fisheries management demanded to ensure that the fishery is sustainable now and for future generations,” commented Einar Wathne, President Cargill Aqua Nutrition.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the FIP will follow the guidelines of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS) and its activities and outcomes will be publicly available for review and comments at CeDePesca and FisheriesProgress.org websites.
