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In recent years, they have been aimed at achieving certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), whose objective is for an independent organization to audit the fishery and for an external control to be carried out by the auditor himself. An assessment must be approved on three principles: health of the fish stock, impacts on the environment and governance system.

 

More than 500 fisheries around the world, whose catches exceed 15 million tons annually, have achieved this distinction. Once again, our neighbors beat us by a lot. Chile has certified its mussel crops, 318 salmon farms and eleven fisheries. Ecuador also did it with its first two fisheries and in more than 30 thousand hectares of its powerful shrimp aquaculture. Peru shows a round zero, despite the fact that we pride ourselves on having one of the most productive seas on the planet and the enormous efforts made by its fishermen, shipowners, the industry and some organizations that collaborate in this process.

 

Four Peruvian fisheries are developing fishery improvement projects: smaller-scale eel, industrial hake, artisanal squid and mahi mahi. They have different levels of advancement and complexity. The eel is 89% compliant with the requirements of the MSC standard. The hake has progressed up to 80%. The squid and the parrot are, after arduous efforts, with progress levels of 74% and 49% respectively.

 

They all have weaknesses in the governance principle that is in charge of PRODUCE. For example, in the definition of long-term objectives, in having clearly defined roles, processes of consultation and participation of interested parties, decision-making procedures, compliance with the established framework and due to lack of monitoring and evaluation of the measures in force to carry out sustainable management. The artisanal squid and mahi mahi fisheries have gaps (in the process of being solved) in the formality of the vessels and a weakness in the regulation at the supranational level.

 

49% of the total landed for direct human consumption (CHD) comes from these 4 species. Likewise, they constitute approximately 60% of the value of our CHD fisheries and aquaculture exports. They are a source of employment and generate essential value in the context of the desired economic reactivation, although they face great competitive challenges in global trade. It is extremely important to promote those attributes that add differentiating elements to our fisheries, to add strength in the global market compared to products from other suppliers.

 

 

Obtaining sustainability certification is feasible and will contribute to the stability of the entire production chain in the sector. The Ministry of Production is called to establish a strategy to improve those indicators of the governance principle that do not yet obtain the required levels. A specific team must be formed for this purpose which, in my opinion, should be led by the head of the sector, who would have to include it among her priorities to ensure the durability of the market for almost 50% of the volume of fishing for human consumption in the country. . A neglect in this endeavor would be an unforgivable brake on stable development in the field. We have time to protect the future of tens of thousands of fishermen and other actors who depend on our prodigious marine wealth. Laziness is not an option.

Autor/fuente: Alfonso Miranda Eyzaguirre/Expreso

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