Eel fishery becomes Peru’s first to be MSC certified

Historic Milestone as Peruvian Eel Fishery Clinches Prestigious Global Sustainability Certification

PERU
Friday, May 29, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

A collaborative multi-year overhaul transforms the nation's marine management and opens lucrative new doors to eco-conscious global markets

In a landmark achievement for South American fisheries, Peru has officially secured its first-ever Marine Stewardship Council ( MSC ) certification for its eel fishery. The distinction marks the country's successful compliance with the world's most rigorous standard for sustainable wild-capture fishing.

The achievement follows an intense period of modernization. Since 2021 , the fishery has implemented sweeping operational improvements that have resulted in a vastly stronger scientific understanding of eel stocks, highly enhanced monitoring systems, and more effective environmental management measures.

A crucial turning point occurred in 2023 when the fishery entered the MSC Improvement Program . The structured pathway provided local operators with practical tools to reinforce their action plans, prioritize necessary reforms, and make measurable progress toward the stringent global standard.

To meet these goals, the fishery deployed an onboard observer program alongside stricter regulations, including minimum catch sizes and gear restrictions. Furthermore, targeted management measures were introduced to protect critical ecosystems teeming with juvenile eels and vulnerable spawning grounds. These measures include rotating "resting" zones and the permanent closure of habitat vitals such as mangroves. Transparency has also been digitized across the supply chain, backed by a robust new traceability system requiring digital reporting for all catches and landings.

The transformation was driven by a tight-knit collaboration. Private fishing operators and seafood processors Perupez and Sakana worked alongside public scientists, the Peru Marine Research Institute ( IMARPE ), and the Ministry of Production ( PRODUCE ).

Financing the overhaul required innovative economic backing. A new Loan Guarantee Facility—created and led by the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund and Clarmondial—successfully unlocked critical commercial financing from the Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP) for Perupez. This funding directly subsidized the implementation of the data collection systems and the mandatory observer program.

Celebrating the breakthrough, Cristian Vallejos, MSC’s Program Director for Latin America, underscored the regional importance of the announcement.

“This is an historic moment for Peru," Vallejos stated. "The certification of this fishery demonstrates that with solid science, collaborative work, and genuine commitment, it is possible to transform the way we use our marine resources. This achievement not only benefits the ocean, but also the communities that depend on fishing, opening new opportunities in markets that increasingly value sustainability.”

By earning the MSC blue fish label, the Peruvian eel fishery joins an elite global network of certified sustainable seafood producers, setting a powerful precedent for future conservation and commercial success across the region's waters.

🇯🇵 Japanese (日本語)

歴史的快挙 ペルーのウナギ漁業が権威ある世界的な持続可能性認証を獲得

多国籍・多機関による数年間の抜本的改革が国家の海洋管理を変革し、環境意識の高い世界市場への有益な新たな扉を開く

ペルーのウナギ（アナゴ）漁業が、同国初となる海洋管理協議会（MSC）認証を正式に取得し、南米の漁業にとって画期的な成果を達成した。この栄誉は、持続可能な天然漁獲に対する世界で最も厳格な基準を同国がクリアしたことを示すものである。

この成果は、激しい近代化の期間を経て成し遂げられた。2021年以来、同漁業は抜本的な操業改善を実施し、ウナギ資源に対する科学的理解の大幅な強化、高度なモニタリングシステムの構築、そして、より効果的な環境管理措置をもたらした。

極めて重要な転換期となったのは、同漁業がMSC改善プログラムに参画した2023年であった。この構造化された道筋により、地元の事業者は必要な改革の優先順位を定め、行動計画を強化し、厳しい世界基準の達成に向けて具体的な進捗を遂げるための実用的なツールを手に入れた。

これらの目標を達成するため、同漁業は最低漁獲サイズや漁具の制限など、より厳格な規制とともに、船上オブザーバープログラムを導入した。さらに、稚魚が群生する重要な生態系や、脆弱な産卵場を保護するための的確な管理措置が導入された。これらの措置には、循環型の「休漁」ゾーンの設定や、マングローブなどの極めて重要な生息地の永久閉鎖が含まれる。サプライチェーン全体の透明性もデジタル化され、すべての漁獲量と水揚げ量のデジタル報告を義務付ける、強固な新しいトレーサビリティシステムによって支えられている。

この変革は、緊密な協力体制によって推進された。民間の漁業事業者および水産加工業者であるPerupezとSakanaは、公的科学者、ペルー海洋研究所（IMARPE）、および生産省（PRODUCE）と緊密に連携した。

この抜本的改革に資金を供給するためには、革新的な経済的後援が必要であった。MSCの海洋管理基金とClarmondialが主導し創設した新しい融資保証ファシリティは、ペルー信用銀行（BCP）からPerupezへの極めて重要な商業融資を引き出すことに成功した。この資金は、データ収集システムや義務化されたオブザーバープログラムの実施に直接的な補助金として充てられた。

Congratulations on the progress of this painting period, MSCのラテンアメリカin charge of プログラムディレクターであるクリスティアン・バジェホス之は、この発 tableがregional importanceにもたらすemphasisした.

「これはペルーにとって歴史的なmomentです」とバジェホス事は书べた. 「この Fishery Certificationは、True Science、Co-operation、そして真真なコミットメントがあれば、 The method of utilization of marine resources has been proved to be possible.は, the interests of the sea, the benefits of the sea, the dependence of fisheries, the benefits of the sea, and the dependence of fisheriesえ、Possibility of holding on to the market is important and new opportunities are open.

MSCの「エコラベル（青い鱼のマーク）」 is a fishery product producer who has obtained the certification of fishery and fishery. The world's new world's ネットワークわり, このregion's sea area's におけるfuture security and business success のためのstrong な precedent となった.

🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese

A historic milestone: Peruvian eel fishing industry receives globally renowned sustainability certification.

Years of collaborative and radical reforms have transformed the country's ocean management and opened lucrative new doors to environmentally conscious global markets.

In a landmark achievement for the South American fishing industry, Peru 's eel fishing industry has officially received the country's first Marine Stewardship Council ( MSC ) certification. This honor signifies that the country has successfully met the world's most stringent standards for sustainable development in wild fishing.

This achievement is the result of a period of intensive modernization. Since 2021 , the fishing industry has implemented thorough operational improvements, which have greatly enhanced the scientific understanding of eel populations, improved monitoring systems, and developed more effective environmental management measures.

A key turning point occurred in 2023 when the fishing industry joined the MSC Improvement Program . This structured approach provided local operators with practical tools to solidify their action plans, prioritize necessary reforms, and achieve measurable progress toward meeting stringent global standards.

To achieve these goals, the fishing industry deployed an onboard observer program and implemented stricter regulations, including limits on minimum catch size and fishing gear. In addition, targeted management measures were introduced to protect ecosystems teeming with juvenile eels and fragile spawning grounds. These measures included the rotational establishment of "closed fishing" zones and the permanent closure of key habitats such as mangroves. Transparency throughout the supply chain was also digitized and supported by a robust new traceability system that requires digital reporting of all catches and unloads.

This transformation was driven by close collaboration. Private fishing operators and seafood processors Perupez and Sakana worked closely with public scientists, the Peruvian Institute of Marine Research ( IMARPE ), and the Ministry of Production ( PRODUCE ).

Funding this radical reform required innovative economic support. A new loan guarantee mechanism , spearheaded and established by the MSC Marine Management Fund and Clarmondial , successfully unlocked crucial business financing from the Peruvian Credit Bank ( BCP ) to Perupez . This funding directly financed the implementation of the data collection system and the mandatory observer program.

To celebrate this breakthrough, MSC ’s Latin America Program Director, Christian Vallejos, emphasized the importance of the announcement within the region.

“This is a historic moment for Peru ,” Vallejos said. “This certification of the fishing industry demonstrates that it is possible to transform the way we use marine resources through solid science, collaborative work, and genuine commitment. This achievement not only benefits the ocean but also the communities that depend on the fishing industry, opening up new opportunities in a market that increasingly values ​​sustainability.”

By winning the MSC Blue Ecolabel, Peruvian eel fishing has joined a high-end global network of certified sustainable seafood producers, setting a strong example for the future conservation and commercial success of the region's waters.

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