Peru secures continuity of its mahi-mahi exports to the U.S.

Following the approval of a set of measures aimed at complying with the environmental standards required by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) announced that it has ensured the continuity and stability of Peruvian exports of mahi-mahi—known in the country as perico (Coryphaena hippurus)—to the US market.

The MMPA, which will come into force on January 1, 2026, requires foreign fisheries to demonstrate that their practices to prevent harm to marine mammals are comparable to those used by US fleets.

Another South American country, Chile, announced in October that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had confirmed that its export fishing and aquaculture facilities comply with the MMPA standards.

Two months earlier, in August, NOAA Fisheries warned that 240 fisheries from 46 countries would be banned from exporting to the United States for failing to meet them.

More than 80% of Peruvian mahi-mahi exports go to the U.S.

The United States accounts for more than 80% of Peruvian exports of mahi-mahi. Thus, to ensure compliance with US MMPA standards, Peru has stipulated that mahi-mahi intended for export must be caught exclusively using a drifting longline.

This selective fishing gear, consisting of a main line kept near the surface or at a certain depth by means of regularly spaced floats and relatively long baited hooks spaced evenly along the main line, is widely used by the Peruvian artisanal fleet and recognized for its low impact on marine mammals.

Peruvian Minister of Production César Quispe Luján pointed out that 95% of the country's artisanal fleet already uses this fishing gear, which will allow for immediate adaptation to the new regulations without disrupting fishing activities or the export chain.

"Peru has taken timely and responsible decisions to ensure that our exports continue as normal, providing peace of mind to fishermen, exporters, and international markets," said the Minister.

"This measure does not mean an abrupt change for our fishermen, but rather the recognition of a practice they already carry out and which will now allow them to continue accessing their main market with clear and stable rules," Quispe Luján emphasized. 

The second most important artisanal activity in the country

Moreover, as part of its institutional modernization strategy, Produce has also strengthened administrative processes related to exports, appointing eight specialized officials to validate and sign the certificates of admissibility required by the US authorities.

Likewise, guidelines have also been published for issuing the US 'Certification of Admissibility', which will now be processed entirely digitally, reducing processing times to a maximum of five business days.

Produce said that, with these actions, the Peruvian government is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable, modern, and competitive artisanal fishing, strengthening the confidence of international markets and consolidating the country as one of the world's leading suppliers of mahi-mahi.

Mahi-mahi fishing is the second most important artisanal activity in Peru and the third most important in its fishing sector for direct human consumption, which, as recently reported by WeAreAquaculture, is becoming one of the country's main economic drivers, as exports of fishery products from this subsector could exceed USD 2.13 billion by the end of the year.

In the specific case of mahi-mahi, since 2021, this fishery has generated an average of USD 117 million FOB (Free On Board, which represents the cost of goods at the point of shipment or loading, excluding insurance and freight costs) annually in exports, consolidating itself as an engine of coastal development on which more than 12,000 families in the country depend.

Finally, the Peruvian Ministry of Production also emphasized that the new regulation not only guarantees compliance with the environmental standards required by the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act, but also ensures supply to the domestic market.

Fishing for mahi-mahi using gillnets or curtain nets will continue to be authorized for direct human consumption in the country, ensuring the presence of this resource in the diet of Peruvian families, without interfering with Peru's international commitments.