Ecuador skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna - purse seine (SUSTtainableTUNAfishing)

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Overview

The fishing companies Pesquera Finisterre, AldanPacific Ecuador, Pesquera Doña Rouge, and Belouve, Ecuadorian tuna suppliers based in Manta, Ecuador, operate 5 purse seine vessels.

"CLASS 6" Vessels:

- BP DOÑA ROGE (IATTC #: 3139)
- BP RIA DE ALDAN (IATTC #: 19006)
- BP BELLE RIVE (IATTC #: 19057)
- BP BELLE ISLE (IATTC #: 19059)
- BP BELOUVE (IATTC #: 19066)The tuna fishing for this FIP takes place within the Exclusive Economic Zones of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, as well as in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. These operations contribute as a source of food, generate both direct and indirect employment, support the export trade balance, and provide economic support at both the regional and national levels.

The target species for capture are:

- Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares),
- Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and
- Bigeye tuna (T. obesus).

Some associated species include black skipjack (Eutynnus lineatus), mahi-mahi, wahoo, and bonito (Sarda spp.).

The fishery has faced various challenges since its inception, primarily in three areas: overexploitation of the resource, overcapitalization, and social conflicts. The fishery is managed through a scientific plan and the fishery management resolutions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), in which governments, companies, fishers, crew members, processors, and NGOs actively participate. The fishery is conducted in a safe, inclusive, and economically viable manner, following a sustainable resource model, adhering to international regulatory standards, with coordinated stakeholders, well-advised fishers who enjoy quality of life and economic development, using optimal infrastructure and wide, diverse distribution channels that offer high-quality, value-added products meeting market demands.

FIP Description 

The fishing companies Pesquera Finisterre, AldanPacific Ecuador, Pesquera Doña Rouge, and Belouve, Ecuadorian tuna suppliers based in Manta, Ecuador, operate 5 purse seine vessels.

"CLASS 6" Vessels:

FIP Objective(s) 

The goal of the FIP (Fishery Improvement Project) is to achieve a score of >80 on all performance indicators to achieve the Standard of the Marine Stewardship Council by January 2029

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 2: FIP Launch
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2025
January 2029
Next Progress Report Due 
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Bigeye Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus obesus
Buying Guide Link Image 
Bigeye Tuna
Buying Guide
Common Name 
Skipjack Tuna
Scientific Name
Katsuwonus pelamis
Buying Guide Link Image 
Skipjack Tuna
Buying Guide
Common Name 
Yellowfin Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus albacares
Buying Guide Link Image 
Yellowfin Tuna
Buying Guide
Gear Type 
Purse Seine
Location
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Ecuador
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country 
Colombia
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country 
Peru
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country Flag of Vessel 
Ecuador
Regional Fisheries Management Organization
IATTC
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
40,000 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
600,000 metric tons
Landings Date 
February 2025
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2025
25% 75%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
Not yet available
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Sep 2025
Target End Date
Jan 2029

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
SUSTtuna - SUSTtainableTUNAfishing FIP
Organization Type 
Other
Primary Contact 
Guillermo Moran Velasquez
Email 
gamv6731@gmail.com
Website Name 
SUSTainableTUNAfishing
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
26156