November 6, 2013
Peru to implement monitoring, control of fisheries sector
Starting from the capture to landing, production, processing and marketing of aquatic resources, Peru''s Ministry of Production (Produce) decided to implement the Monitoring and Control of Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme as a whole for the entire production chain.
The main objective is to strengthen the supervision and combat the illegal activities performed in the fisheries sector, the Ministry said. The programme will be implemented permanently in the country, covering: artisanal vessels, those being smaller-scale and larger scale; processing plants manufacturing fish products for direct and indirect human consumption; the residual fishmeal plants; the reuse of discarded plants and waste; the individuals and companies that are engaged in transportation and marketing of seafood products for human consumption or for indirect one; holders of concessions and permits for aquaculture activity development of larger scale.
In order to meet the production process from the capture to the sale, the traceability of fishmeal, fish oil and waste fishmeal production, and production and processing for direct human consumption is set for the first time.
Furthermore, the land transport of aquatic products will be supervised and a certificate of origin will be requested, otherwise penalties will be imposed including the confiscation of the resource and a fine to the carrier firm.
The monitoring activities will be provided by the supervisory companies to be selected by Produce as public tender. The Ministry informed that this process will be convened in the coming days.
Those companies interested in participating should have no contractual link or perform advisory, consulting or direct inspection services for the supervised ones at the time of the settlement of the contract with the Produce to avoid creating any conflict of interest.
The Produce will be in charge of shaping the costs generated by the monitoring and surveillance tasks to be performed by the supervisory companies. The surveillance tasks to be defined in the framework of the Programme will be carried out in the fishing boats performing catch or transport activities of the aquatic resources, in the extraction and unloading sites, in the processing plants manufacturing fish products for direct and indirect human consumption, at redevelopment plants, at transporting vehicles and at the time of sale.