Official ceremony for the awarding of MSC certification to the Peruvian eel fishery.
Photo: Produce.
The Peruvian eel fishery has obtained Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, thus becoming not only the first fishery in the country to be MSC-certified, but also the first to achieve it for this species worldwide.
Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) stated that achieving this international sustainability recognition marks a historic milestone for the country's fishing industry.
The achievement is the result of more than five years of rigorous and continuous work led by the Peruvian Association of Eel Producers (APPA), with the support of Produce and the technical and scientific backing of the Peruvian Institute of the Sea (Imarpe).
During the official certificate presentation ceremony, Peru's Minister of Production, César Quispe Luján, explained that the process to obtain MSC certification involved a rigorous evaluation of the biological health of the resource, the mitigation of impacts on the marine ecosystem, and the strength of the fisheries management system, thus consolidating a more modern, responsible, and competitive activity.
The head of Produce highlighted especially the contribution of Imarpe, whose scientific research supported the process through the permanent monitoring of the resource, the generation of biological-fisheries information and the preparation of technical reports that made it possible to demonstrate the sustainability of the fishery.
According to information provided by Peru's Ministry of Production, the eel fishery has registered average catches of 3,389 tons annually over the last five years and generates formal employment for approximately 500 families involved in the extraction, processing, and marketing of the resource. It is, therefore, a strategic activity for the country.
Currently, Peru exports an average of 2,497 tons of eel per year, generating over USD 11.6 million in foreign exchange. The product reaches markets that Produce described as "highly demanding," such as South Korea, Vietnam, the United States, European countries, and Taiwan.
"Peruvian eel already has a presence in highly demanding markets. A certification like the MSC not only strengthens our offering, but will also allow us to compete more effectively in international markets," the Minister noted.
Quispe Luján also indicated that this achievement should become a benchmark for other Peruvian fisheries to move towards international certifications and strengthen their competitiveness.
"May this MSC certification not only be the end goal of this long journey, but also the great starting point to continue building together, united as one force, a prosperous, sustainable and legitimately recognized Peruvian fishing industry in the eyes of the world," the head of Produce said.
As mentioned, the Ministry of Production's statement reported that Peruvian eel reaches markets such as South Korea, Vietnam, the U.S., Europe, and Taiwan, although it doesn't specify its targeted markets now that it's MSC-certified. However, the presence of Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, Japan's ambassador to Peru, at the official certificate presentation ceremony might offer some clues.
Produce concluded its statement by highlighting that the Marine Stewardship Council certification of its eel fishery constitutes a key precedent to continue promoting the management, traceability and sustainability of hydrobiological resources, with a view to expanding the competitiveness of the Peruvian fishing sector.
As a result of this fisheries management, in June alone, Produce has already ordered the suspension of two other key fisheries in the country. At the beginning of the month, the bonito fishery was temporarily prohibited, while last week it was extended the anchovy fishing ban, ordered on May 27 and initially scheduled to be lifted on June 10.
The decision by Peruvian authorities to maintain the suspension of anchovy fishing—which was already the second of the season after the ten-day closure ordered in April—was adopted under a precautionary approach to safeguard the sustainability of what is the country's main fishery.
However, as reported by IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organisation, following the extension of the suspension due to ongoing Coastal El Niño conditions, there is no announced end date now, raising concerns about the availability of fishmeal and fish oil, as Peru accounts for 20% of global production in a normal year.
