Panamanian reduction fishery gains certification first

Several years after the fishery was accepted onto the programme, the fishmeal and fish oil production plants sourcing from it have demonstrated full compliance and just gained MarinTrust certification. Some of the main improvements made in this fishery include a new management plan and the setting of total allowable catches. An onboard observer programme was also initiated which enabled the collection of information on the size and maturity of the target species and the ecosystem impacts on endangered species. As a result of the findings of the observers’ programme, fishermen are regularly trained to release vulnerable species alive. “Back in the 2010s, the Panama small pelagics fishery was data poor, with inadequate records of effort or landings, and nothing known about its impacts on the ecosystem. The market had started demanding third party proof of sustainability, so something needed to be done,” explained Ernesto Godelman, executive director of CeDePesca, the non-profit ...