NSF Issues First-Ever MSC Certification for an Eel Fishery to Perupez S.A.C. and Sakana del Peru

Following a comprehensive and highly rigorous assessment process, NSF has issued the world’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification ever granted to an eel fishery, awarded to Perupez S.A.C and Sakana del Peru, part of the Asociación Peruana de Productores de Anguila (APPA) for the fishery targeting Ophichthus remiger.

This milestone marks the first eel fishery certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard worldwide, while also representing the first fishery in Peru to achieve MSC certification, one of the world’s most recognised and rigorous benchmarks for sustainable fishing.

A Highly Rigorous, Independent Evaluation Process Led by NSF

The certification resulted from an extensive evaluation process, which included independent on-site audits from NSF and technical reviews of fishing practises, management systems and stakeholder engagement.

The process also included consultations with scientists, government institutions, industry representatives, and other stakeholders, followed by public comment periods and peer review by international experts.

“Technical rigor in these assessments is essential to ensuring that standards remain trustworthy and meaningful across global markets,” said Fabiane Zanoti, Managing Director of NSF LatAm.

Strengthening Market Access Through Verified Sustainability

The eel trap fishery is composed of a small-scale fleet of 16 vessels operating along Peru’s northern coast (Piura and Tumbes), using highly selective trap methods to harvest eel. With annual landings below 5,000 metric tons, the fishery supports local economies and provides stable employment for more than 550 people.

The fishery supplies high-quality frozen eel products to international markets including Japan, South Korea, Europe, the United States and Taiwan.

With MSC certification delivered by NSF, eel trap fishery is now positioned to access premium global supply chains that prioritise independently verified sustainable sourcing.

Five Years of Improvement and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

This achievement reflects more than five years of coordinated effort initiated in 2021 through a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) led by Perupez S.A.C. and Sakana del Perú S.A. in partnership with the NGO REDES-Sostenibilidad Pesquera.

Close collaboration with public institutions was also instrumental:

• The Peruvian Marine Research Institute (IMARPE) strengthened scientific monitoring;
• The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) enhanced governance through updated regulations and participatory management frameworks.

Fleet operators implemented improved monitoring systems, enhancing catch data accuracy and reporting on bycatch and ecosystem interactions, demonstrating minimal environmental impact in line with MSC requirements, as verified through NSF’s certification process.