Peru's jumbo flying squid fishery has been accepted into the Marine Stewardship Council's Improvement Program (MSC-IP), starting the fishery on the path toward MSC certification.
The process is being led by the Peruvian Chamber of Jumbo Flying Squid (CAPECAL), the member companies of which comprise 21 of the country’s main jumbo squid-processing and export companies.
“This is a key moment for the Peruvian jumbo squid industry. Having been admitted to the MSC Improvement Program shows that Peru has the conviction to achieve fishing sustainability to ensure the future of the resource, the well-being of fishing communities, and competitiveness in global markets,” CAPECAL President Gerardo Carrera said.
CAPECAL also noted that the MSC standard is based on three essential principles – maintaining a healthy resource, minimizing the impacts of fishing on the ecosystem, and ensuring a solid governance system with a long-term approach. The organization credited Peru’s Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) and its technical arm, the Institute of the Sea of Peru (IMARPE), for tailoring measures specifically designed to properly manage the fishery and promote long-term sustainability.
According to CAPECAL Vice President Alfonso Miranda, recent advances in governance that have set the fishery on a path toward sustainability include the approval of new fisheries management regulations for jumbo squid, updated rules aimed at combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the development of public-private partnerships to strengthen scientific research that supports decision-making in establishing catch limits.
“These efforts have improved the understanding of the state of the resource and its extractive dynamics, in addition to strengthening the reputation of the fishery in international markets,” Miranda said.
The MSC-IP’s implementation will be essential to ensure the sustainability of the resource and protect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen, fishing vessel owners, and workers who depend on this important production chain, CAPECAL noted.
The jumbo flying squid fishery, located off the western coast of South America, is the top squid fishery in the world by output, accounting for over 30 percent of global squid volumes, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
