Eastern Pacific large pelagics - longline (Martec)

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Overview

The Eastern Pacific Longline Large Pelagics FIP (Martec) fishery targets yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) both in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama as well as swordfish (Xiphias gladius) exclusively in Costa Rica. The 250 longline vessels are flagged to Costa Rica and Panama and fish on the high seas and within both countries' EEZs. The fishery is locally managed by the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) and the Panama Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP) and regionally by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

FIP Description 

The Eastern Pacific Longline Large Pelagics FIP (Martec) fishery targets yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) both in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama as well as swordfish (Xiphias gladius

FIP Objective(s) 
  • Sustainable Fish Stocks – To ensure tuna, swordfish, and mahi mahi catches across the Eastern Pacific Ocean do not exceed sustainable levels
  • Minimising Environmental Impacts – To ensure we are not having a negative impact on primary, secondary and ETP species
  • Effective Management – To strengthen governance systems in Flag States, RFMO and the Eastern Pacific Longline Large Pelagics (Martec) fishery

Overall we aim to meet an unconditional pass of the MSC Standard by November 2025.

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
November 2020
November 2025
Last Progress Report Reviewed 
Monday, July 31, 2023
Next Progress Report Due 
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Species 
Common Name 
Yellowfin Tuna
Scientific Name
Thunnus albacares
Common Name 
Mahi-mahi
Scientific Name
Coryphaena hippurus
Common Name 
Swordfish
Scientific Name
Xiphias gladius
Gear Type 
Longline
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 77 (Pacific, Eastern Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Costa Rica
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country 
Panama
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country 
Ecuador
Geographic Scope 
entire country
Country Flag of Vessel 
Costa Rica
Country Flag of Vessel 
Panama
Country Flag of Vessel 
Ecuador
Regional Fisheries Management Organization
IATTC
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
5,000 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
25,000 metric tons
Landings Date 
February 2022
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
November 01, 2020
39% 21% 39%
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

A Advanced Progress
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.
Jun 2024
Target End Date
Nov 2025

FIP Leads

Primary Contact 
Patrick Roulet
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.
14707