The management of reduction fisheries in South America continues to stagnate or even decline, according to a new report by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
Compared to 2022, in the sustainability category, two European fisheries improved while two South American fisheries dropped. The majority of fisheries assessed continue to be reasonably well managed or better, but performance has been slowly declining since 2018, says SFP.
“In this new report we see two more European fisheries regaining lost ground,” said Dave Martin, program director at SFP. “But South America is headed in the opposite direction.”
Chile and Peru are recognised global leaders in the production of marine ingredients with Chile and Ecuador also leading in the production of farmed seafood. But reduction fisheries in the region have consistently demonstrated middling performance, says SFP.
The drop in performance of three South American Fisheries (Anchoveta - Southern Peru/Northern Chile, Anchoveta Chile Valparaíso (V) - Los Lagos (X), and Araucanian herring - Central-South Chile) make these three of the four fisheries in the lowest sustainability category (Category C – poorly managed).
This decline, when compared with the recent turnaround in several European fisheries, highlights the need for increased regional cooperation on shared fisheries, says SFP.
“There is a clear need for industry, governments, scientists and others to redouble efforts to support and deliver sustainable fisheries,” said Martin.
