The Scientific Research Vessel (BIC) 'Humboldt' of Imarpe, the Peruvian marine research institution that signed the agreement.
Photo: Produce.
The NGO Global Fishing Watch has signed a scientific cooperation agreement with the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe) to promote marine research, strengthen vessel monitoring, and promote transparency and sustainable management of ocean resources in Peru.
The ultimate goal of the partnership is to improve the country's capacity to monitor human activity in the sea, generate technical and scientific knowledge to guide sustainable fisheries management, and support evidence-based decision making.
"This partnership marks another step in Peru's commitment to transparency and sustainable ocean stewardship," said Josefina del Prado, Peru country officer at Global Fishing Watch. "Working alongside IMARPE, we aim to deepen our understanding of fishing dynamics and introduce innovative tools to support science and public policy."
"This agreement opens new opportunities," coordinator of Imarpe's Remote Sensing Area, Luis Escudero, agreed. "Working together on technological training and incorporating the data collected by our Fishing Logbook observers will be mutually beneficial and have multiple positive impacts, like supporting the refining of Global Fishing Watch's algorithms," he added.
Peru's marine ecosystem is one of the most productive in the world - it is the best fishing performance country in South America - and therefore faces challenges such as overfishing, climate change, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Through this partnership, Global Fishing Watch and Imarpe will join forces to address these issues and promote the sustainable use of marine resources.
As the NGO highlighted, Peru has previously demonstrated leadership in marine transparency. In 2018, it became the first country in Latin America to publicly share vessel monitoring system (VMS) data of its industrial fishing fleet through the Global Fishing Watch map, thus reinforcing regional efforts to promote accountability in the sector.
Now, the partnership between the independent, international nonprofit organization and the leading Peruvian marine research institution establishes a formal framework for collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and the development of methodologies for analyzing vessel tracking data.
Thus, the information resulting from these tracking systems - such as the VMS data or the automatic identification system (AIS) - can be integrated into national fisheries surveillance strategies in Peru. The agreement also includes training sessions, joint studies, and co-authored scientific publications aimed at strengthening national capacities in ocean monitoring and fisheries governance.
As Global Fishing Watch noted, the Peruvian Institute of the Sea plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable use of Peru's ocean resources through evidence-based information based on data collected not only through tracking but also through its own research cruises.
In addition to helping in the fight against IUU fishing, which the country has increased in recent years, setting a record in 2024, Imarpe also participates in the country's fisheries management by making recommendations for Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) to make sustainable decisions.
Its advice is decisive, for example, when it comes to setting fishing quotas for marine resources such as anchovy or jumbo flying squid, both of which are fundamental to the country's economy, and the former also for the aquafeed sector worldwide.
By combining its local expertise with Global Fishing Watch's open data platform and technological capabilities now, the partnership is poised to support Peru's broader goals in marine conservation.
