Social Enterprise, addressing traceability and bycatch reduction with INNOVAPESCA CIA. LTDA. (Galapagos, Ecuador)
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador
The organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship
In the Galapago Marine Reserve, 68 marine species are commercialized, the most relevant being yellowfin tuna, swordfish, grouper, spotted scorpion, snapper, grape eye, pomfret, octopus, lobster, among other species of fish and shellfish. In Galapagos only artisanal fishing is allowed. The artisanal fishing sector is a strategic sector to sustain food security and the economy of the human population of the Galapagos. In 2014, the estimated annual gross income generated by the entire Galapagos artisanal fishing sector was US $ 4.35 million. There are 1,100 fishing licenses and 333 vessels registered by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, distributed in three ports (Puerto Ayora, Baquerizo Moreno and Puerto Villamil). However, only 40% are active fishermen.
Conservation and environmental stewardship is seen locally as a progressive approach to achieving fisheries sustainability.
Stewardship experience: Development of a community-based fishing enterprise with stewardship
The issue or problem being addressed
Given the increasing relevance of the tuna fishery for food security and the Galapagos economy, there is a consensus among management authorities, fishermen and NGOs to promote the development of the artisanal tuna fishery as part of a comprehensive strategy to achieve three main objectives:
(1) reduce the exploitation of coastal fisheries that are depleted, overexploited or whose conservation status is unknown;
(2) improve the socioeconomic status of the fishing sector by diversifying their livelihoods; and
(3) restore the structure and functionality of marine ecosystems.
However, the key question is how to maximize the socioeconomic benefits generated by the Galapagos tuna fishery, while minimizing its ecological impact on endangered, threatened or protected species, such as sharks, mantas and sea turtles. The issue that has generated controversy for the past 23 years has been the use of longlines, which were banned in 2005, but have continued to be used illegally ever since.
The activities
Since 2017, the founding partners of INNOVAPESCA have actively participated in the design and implementation process of a community fisheries improvement project for the Galapagos tuna fishery, led by Conservation International and the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD). From this process, an action plan and a business plan were agreed to comprehensively improve the management and marketing system for this fishery. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, these plans have not been able to be implemented. However, our newly formed company maintains interest and support for this initiative to be effectively implemented. Our interest is to form a company based on principles of sustainability and social responsibility.
The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects
At this time, since we have not yet had authorization from the management authorities to launch a project to evaluate the new monitoring and traceability system in combination with the longline use, we still do not have a direct impact on conservation and sustainable use in tuna fishing. However, our undertaking has attracted the attention of authorities, NGOs and the fishing sector itself, who wish to support its implementation. At the moment we have only help to build capacities related to the development of ventures.
The success and significance of the activities
At the moment we have legally created our company together with a business plan. In addition, we have created strategic alliances with NGOs to obtain support for the purchase of monitoring, control and surveillance equipment, as well as for the implementation of a fisheries traceability system. Our interest is to demonstrate that the longline generates a low percentage of bycatch and discards of protected species, when it is properly used. To verify this, we wish to permanently implement electronic monitoring systems (video cameras) in all vessels that are part of our company, together with artisanal VMS devices. In addition, we plan to work collaboratively with management authorities and NGOs to establish a fisheries traceability system, which, in combination with the Galapagos Seal of Origin, will allow us to verify to our clients and the local community that our catches are legal and originating in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. We hope that these actions will allow us to access a market that offers a better price for our products because they are of high quality and friendly to the environment.
Some lessons learned or words of wisdom
Success depends on a united, organized work team with a shared vision and the will to learn more every day.
For more information, click the link below to open a PowerPoint presentation on this initiative in a new browser window (available in English):
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Fishery Facts
(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)
Fishery characteristics:
- Marine capture fishery (e.g. nearshore/coastal/reef-based/deep sea)
- Commercial
- Multi-species
The environment where fishing takes place:
- Open Ocean
- Coastal – Nearshore / Coral
Main species targeted:
- Marine – Large pelagics (finfish) – e.g. tuna/sharks
- Marine – Demersal finfish – e.g. cod/flatfish/grouper
- Molluscs (including bivalves and cephalopods – e.g. octopus/clams)
- Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/prawn/lobster)
- Other animals (e.g. jellyfish/sea cucumber)
Gear types/ methods used:
- Trawl (demersal/pelagic)
- Longline
- Line
- Dive
- Beach harvest/gleaning (e.g. collection of shellfish/algae/mangrove crabs etc.)
Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:
- Main source of employment
- Full time
- Seasonal