Photo: SONAPESCAL

Peru's Artisanal Fishing Sector Ushers in New Era: Enhanced Safety, Sustainability, and High Seas Representation

PERU
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 05:00 (GMT + 9)

Over 1,700 artisanal vessels in Peru are now equipped with Satellite Tracking System (SISESAT) devices, actively reporting to PRODUCE's control center. This marks a pivotal moment for a sector that has historically sustained one of the country's most vital fisheries, signaling a collective commitment to a safer, more sustainable future with expanded opportunities on the high seas.

LIMA – After decades of sustaining Peru's critical giant squid and mahi-mahi fisheries, the nation's artisanal fishing sector is proactively embracing a new chapter of formalization and strategic advancement. This collective commitment materialized with the launch of “SISESAT for All: A New Era for High-Seas Artisanal Squid and Mahi-Mahi Fishing,” an initiative championed by the National Society of Artisanal Fishing of Peru (SONAPESCAL).

The launch event drew significant attendance, including authorities from the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), national and international artisanal fishing associations, technology companies, and civil society representatives. This gathering symbolized a shift in mindset, as the artisanal sector recognized the vital need for tools to strengthen its rights and ensure continued presence at sea.

Photo: SONAPESCAL

PRODUCE reaffirmed its commitment to driving this transition as part of a broader sustainability agenda. Daniel Collachagua, Director General of Supervision, Oversight, and Sanctions at PRODUCE, emphasized that SISESAT's primary goal isn't control, but rather to benefit artisanal fishers by making their activity safer, more profitable, and crucially, more sustainable.

Iván Gómez, a fisheries engineer and specialist from the Innovations for Ocean Action (I4OA) Foundation, presented the regulatory and technical advancements that have expanded SISESAT access for the artisanal sector. He reported that, as of June 2025, over 1,700 artisanal vessels have SISESAT units installed and are actively reporting to PRODUCE's control center, marking a key step towards more transparent, traceable, and secure fishing practices.

Gómez highlighted that this technology not only protects lives at sea but also paves the way for legal vessel registration with the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), the body that regulates high-seas fishing. "Vessels operating beyond 200 miles can only do so legally if they are registered with this organization, and a fundamental requirement is precisely having an active satellite tracking device," he clarified.

José Mario Fiestas, an artisanal vessel owner and SONAPESCAL member, underscored SISESAT's role as proof of their fishing grounds, asserting that "now the state and the world know that we also fish on the high seas."

During the event, the "SISESAT for All" digital platform was introduced, offering fishers and the public information on the system's benefits, implementation figures, and how to join. The document, "The Peruvian Artisanal Fishery and SPRFMO: A Collective Path for Our Rights," was also unveiled, summarizing the efforts of over 280 artisanal vessels that have already formalized their operations and officially registered with SPRFMO, opening new horizons for the country.

Carlos Yenque, a SONAPESCAL leader, stressed the artisanal sector's ambition for growth, emphasizing the need to invest in safety, visibility, and rights. He affirmed that SISESAT grants them visibility, and SPRFMO registration provides recognition.

The day concluded with the signing of cooperation agreements between SONAPESCAL and satellite technology providers CLS Perú and MELECNET. Both companies pledged technical support, training, and direct information to fishing coves and vessels yet to install the equipment.

Photo: SONAPESCAL

María José Boluarte, General Manager of CLS Perú, stated, "This milestone not only promotes the use of satellite monitoring but also integrates new actors into the artisanal fishing value chain." Renzo Martini, MELECNET's representative, added, "This initiative demonstrates that when the fishing sector works together, great progress is achieved, and the state's participation in the event reflects a clear institutional commitment to these processes."

With emotion and conviction, Elsa Vega, President of SONAPESCAL, concluded the event by reaffirming the collective path taken by the artisanal sector. "This is just the beginning; it's not just a campaign, but a collective decision by fishers to have a voice, to organize, to build responsible, formal, sustainable, and safe fishing," she declared.

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