Sonsoles García, Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries of Ecuador (third from right), presented the 'FiTI Report 2022-2023' together with representatives of the other organizations involved in its preparation.
Photo: Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries (MPCEIP).
Representatives of the Ecuadorian Government presented the 'FiTI Report 2022-2023' in Quito. The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) standard establishes twelve requirements that provide an assessment of a country's fisheries regulations, marine resources, and industrial and artisanal fisheries. Ecuador becomes the first Latin American country to adopt it.
The report was prepared by FiTI Ecuador's National Multi-Stakeholder Group (GNM), with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), within the framework of the ECOS project. This initiative is a joint effort between UNODC and USAID to address environmental crime in six Latin American countries, including Ecuador.
During the report presentation, the Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment, and Fisheries of Ecuador, Sonsoles García, highlighted the relevance of this milestone for the South American country.
"This report marks a milestone in transparency in the fisheries sector," she said. "Ecuador demonstrates that sustainable fisheries management is possible when there is a real commitment to accountability and the protection of our resources."
Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries (MPCEIP) emphasized that with the publication of this report, the country not only reinforces its commitment to transparency and sustainability in fisheries management, but also consolidates its position as a regional leader in this area, and as a reference in the region for other countries seeking to improve the management of their marine resources.
"This is a clear testimony of the country's commitment and leadership in adopting international transparency standards," highlighted Nicolás Rovegno, FiTI representative. "We are confident this report will serve as an inspiration for other countries in the region to follow this path towards greater sustainability and stronger governance in their fisheries."
Leopoldo Fernández Herce, of the UNODC, expressed a similar opinion. "This effort strengthens the economic and environmental sustainability of the country, contributing to the security and well-being of the region," said the representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
In addition to reaffirming Ecuador's commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of its valuable fishery resources for future generations, the 'FiTI Report 2022-2023' has also identified significant progress in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).
The document also underscored the importance of continuing to update data on vessels and catches, both on the mainland and in the Galapagos Islands. The focus is to ensure clear and understandable accessibility of information to improve decision-making for the benefit of fishing communities and marine ecosystems.
Illegal fishing is a problem that not only Ecuador, but the governments of the region in general are willing to confront. Recently, its southern neighbor, Peru, also joined forces with the United States to fight IUU fishing.