Peru Tumbes & Piura eel - trap

Perupez, Sakana del Peru, and Redes-Sostenibilidad Pesquera have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to design a FIP with the ultimate goal of achieving MSC certifiable status for the common eel (Ophichthus remiger) fishery between the regions from Tumbes to Piura. This FIP has also received the support of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.

The fishing companies Perupez y Sakana del Peru have access to the fisheries of the Anguilla through smaller-scale fishing permits. They also process and export products to various markets across the globe including Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, Spain, and Vietnam. These companies promoted the development and establishment of the eel fishing ordinance regulation in the year 2011 with the purpose of establishing fisheries management measures for rational and sustainable exploitation of the eel (Ophichthus remiger) fishing resource, harmonizing the participation of agents involved in the extraction and processing of eel, and contributing to the development of the industry for direct human consumption.

Fishing area: The fishing areas of the eel fleet are located in Tumbes (from Zorritos to the south of Punta Sal) and Piura (to the north and south of Talara and from Paita to the south of Parachique), with extractive activity centered in the province of Sechura-Piura region.

Fishing fleet: The smaller scale fleet dedicated to the catch eel is composed of 18 fishing boats ranging in length from 5.18 meters to 16.72 meters. These fishery boats generally carry an average of 800 traps per boat and have the capacity to receive between 1 and 3 TM of raw material.

Capture method: The common eel is caught whit traps made of gray PVC pipes, measuring about 70 cm in length and 15 cm in diameter. They are closed at each end with a plastic lid that has an opening of about 5 mm between the inlet guides and additional holes at both ends of the trap, which ensure the flow of water through the traps. The cap of the opening is white and clearly visible in the dark waters to attract attention. The traps are filled with bait consisting of anchovies, mackerel and black skipjack or tambourine. The traps are left on the seabed for about 3 hours, then the collection of the traps is started with a hydraulic system that allows lifting the lines of the spinel with the traps. The captured eel is deposited in an isolated cellar containing seawater that keeps the resource alive for further processing in that condition.