Peruvian jumbo squid fishery creates FIP with WWF

The Peruvian Chamber for Jumbo Flying Squid (Capecal) has creating a jig fishery improvement project with WWF Peru that looks to address sustainability issues in one of the world’s largest artisanal fisheries.

“Since the launch of the jumbo flying squid FIP in 2017, there have been some improvement efforts in the fishery. But this commitment by the Peruvian industry, through Capecal, will be a key factor in moving progress forward and helping support the success of the FIP," Carmen Gonzalez-Valles, markets director at the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) for Europe, said.

The jumbo flying squid fishery is one of Peru’s most significant fisheries for human consumption and one of the largest artisanal fisheries in the world, responsible for an export value of more than USD 850 million (EUR 735 million) in 2019 alone, with the participation of a registered fleet of over 2,500 artisanal vessels.

In recent years, Peru has been responsible for 49 percent of the jumbo squid caught worldwide, generating some 100,000 jobs, according to Peru’s former vice-minister for fishing, Alfonso Miranda.

Capecal, which was established with SFP support, has brought together a group of 17 Peruvian fishing firms that represent more than 60 percent of the value of exports from the jumbo flying squid fishery. It is an independent industry association that promotes the conservation and management of jumbo flying squid in Peru and supports the Peru jumbo flying squid FIP through political advocacy, funding, and FIP implementation. Capecal’s founding companies include Pacific Freezing Company, Sabanamar Pacífico, Océano Seafood, Peruvian Sea Food, Transmarina del Perú, Refrigerados Fisholg e hijos, Marfrío Perú, Coinrefri, Produmar, Perupez, Seafrost, Fernández, Altamar foods, Dexim, Sakana, Peru Frost, and Proanco.

The Peru jumbo flying squid FIP agreement was presented during a panel at the CONXEMAR seafood show in Vigo, Spain. It is the world’s first comprehensive squid FIP in the world, in which its participants will work toward Marine Stewardship Council certification over the next several years.

“In the coming years, we can expect from Capecal a total commitment to the promotion of the jumbo flying squid FIP in Peru,” Capecal President Gerardo Carrera said.

SFP is a marine conservation organization that was founded in 2006, with the mission of leveraging the power of seafood buyers and retailers in every part of the seafood supply chain to rebuild depleted fish stocks, reduce the environmental impacts of fishing and fish farming, address social issues in fishing, and advance economic opportunities for fishers and their communities.  

Photo courtesy of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership