Peru Mahi Alliance achieves important progress in the sustainability of artisanal mahi fishing.

Peru Mahi Alliance achieves important progress in the sustainability of artisanal mahi fishing.

 

 

·       The mahi fishery in Peru accounts for 43% of the world's catches of this resource.

·       79% of its exports are destined for the United States.

·       It has been possible to monitor 9 fishing trips where more than 100 videos have been obtained with remote electronic monitoring (REM) cameras

·       25 professionals from FONDEPES and other government entities have been certified to train fishermen in the correct release of sea turtles.

·       120 specimens of mahi were donated to the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), to contribute to the scientific analysis of the resource.

 

 

The mahi is one of the most important resources of the fishery in Peru, it supports an important socioeconomic activity for the country. Throughout this fishery, around 40,000 jobs are generated and approximately 109 million dollars per year in exports. Currently, its main market is the United States, which requires a sustainable fishery that has MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification.  Or also,  develop a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) to achieve it.

 

"During the 2022-2023 mahi season we will work on a new work plan that reinforces the progress made so far to ensure its sustainability and we will address new challenges for the improvement of the fishery towards MSC certification", said Michael Mc Gregor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Peru Mahi Alliance (PMA), alliance of processing and exporting companies of mahi.

 

The traceability of marine resources, is key to guarantee their protection and sustainability.  Therefore, it is necessary to count with a system that allows obtaining information that demonstrates the legal origin of the catches and their route. For this reason, PMA has also been promoting the use of TrazApp, an application that allows to document in real time the step by step of the resource extraction , in order to interconnect this data with different institutions in the sector and thus contribute to a better monitoring of the fishery.

 

On the other hand, because bycatch is one of the biggest problems that crosses the marine ecosystem, WFP together with FONDEPES, the Scientific University of the South, WWF and Prodelphinus, made 25 instructors from FONDEPES and other government entities be trained in the correct handling and release of sea turtles. This achievement has been important, because they will later train artisanal fishermen, who will also learn how to protect these species. Ensuring the sustainability of fisheries is a task that involves the effort of all actors in the value chain. Fishermen, government and companies, who in an articulated way have been working and contributing to the advances of the FIP.

 

“The active involvement of both the Board of Directors and all alliance members has played an important role in the implementation of the work plan. Also, the articulation with different actors of the fishery (both government institutions and civil associations) has been vital to continue advancing in the implementation of the FIP of mahi towards MSC certification. This has shown that industry plays an important role in the sustainable management of the fishery. That’s why, we extend the invitation to other processing and exporting companies of mahi to join efforts to achieve this purpose”, Gilary added, Officer of Fishery Improvement Projects of WWF Peru.

 

About Peru Mahi Alliance

 

Peru Mahi Alliance (PMA) is an alliance of processing and exporting companies of mahi that was born in 2019 with the aim of achieving its sustainability and obtaining the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification. For this reason, PMA has been contributing to the mahi Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) through the implementation of an annual work plan that is developed with the participation of all members of the alliance with the technical support of WWF Peru.

One of the most important events, thanks to the commitment of PMA companies, has been the donation of 120 specimens of mahi to the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE); this work has been important to strengthen the scientific analysis of the resource. Also, 10 remote electronic monitoring cameras were implemented in 9 artisanal vessels, now videos with fisheries and biological data contribute to the analysis of the fishery. (Project co-financed by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Innovation Program, PNIPA).

 

© Yawar Films / WWF-Perú