The Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification of Peru’s snake eel (Ophichthus remiger) fishery – finalized earlier this year – will grant access to new international markets and drive significant growth, according to Peruvian Association of Eel Producers (APPA) President Darío Alvitez.
The value of Peruvian eel exports are expected to exceed USD 6 million (EUR 5.3 million) this year and around USD 20 million (EUR 17.5 million) annually over the next five years, Alvitez said.
“Peru will be seen differently [with the certification],” said Alvitez, who is also vice president of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee at Peru’s National Society of Industries (SNI). “This is a door that opens for us – for good Peruvian fishing companies to be able to commercially enter the international fishing market.”
Driving that growth, he explained, is the fact that the certification will give the fishery access to demanding markets.
"We are going to improve exports, entering [international markets] with products for the final consumer,” he said. “Obtaining the [MSC] seal will allow us to enter the most demanding markets in the world, such as Japan, the United States, and Europe.”
To ensure smooth facilitation of international trade, Alvitez called for Keiko Fujimori, Peru’s newly elected president who will be sworn in on 28 July, to take an active stance in working with the association to drive business development.
“Let's bet on the long term. Let's continue to open markets and provide sustainable work in Peru,” Alvitez said.
The eel fishery obtaining MSC’s stamp of approval came after the fishery steadily made improvements starting in 2021, implementing enhanced monitoring systems and more effective management procedures that drove improved scientific understanding of eel stocks.
“This is an historic moment for Peru. The certification of this fishery demonstrates that with solid science, collaborative work, and genuine commitment, it is possible to transform the way we use our marine resources,” MSC Program Director for Latin America Cristian Vallejos said in a release when the certification was announced. “This achievement not only benefits the ocean but also the communities that depend on fishing, opening new opportunities in markets that increasingly value sustainability.”
During the process, fishing companies and seafood processors Perupez and Sakana worked closely with scientists, the Peruvian Sea Institute (Imarpe), and the Production Ministry (PRODUCE) to advance in the MSC certification process.
