The Peruvian anchovy fishery, which produces up to six million tons annually, recently launched its Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP).
The FIP will lead to the purse-seine fishery obtaining “certifiable status,” according to the guidelines of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (CASS).
The FIP is the result of a memorandum of understanding between the Peruvian National Fisheries Society (SNP) and the Center for Development and Sustainable Fisheries (CeDePesca). The fishery’s products are used for fish oil and fish meal production.
“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,” said Elena Conterno, chairperson of the SNP. “Of course, we have some challenges, which we will address with this FIP.”
The action plan for the FIP includes an update of the former pre-assessment against the MSC standard, data on the trophic impacts of the fishery, improvement of controls for the small-scale fleet and a better understanding of the direct impacts on other species.
Feed producers Skretting and Cargill Nutrition have said they strongly support the FIP and will participate in the steering committee, SNP said in a statement.
“Skretting has long valued its excellent relationship with Peru’s anchoveta fishery and the country’s feed ingredients industry,” Skretting Managing Director Steven Rafferty said. “The fishery has always been an important source of high-quality, sustainable marine ingredients for the aquaculture sector.”
The FIP will enable the Peru anchovy fishery “to meet the highest standards of fisheries management demanded to ensure that the fishery is sustainable now and for future generations,” said Einar Wathne, president of Cargill Aqua Nutrition.
The FIP’s activities and outcomes will be publicly available for review and comments at CeDePesca and FisheriesProgress.org websites.
