FishSource

Ecuador mahi-mahi - longline (FIP)

Access FIP Public Report

Last Updated: 2023-02-23

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2014-05-31

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: WWF (W)

Stock Profile Link
Common dolphinfish - Eastern Pacific Ocean

1. FIP Development	Jul 15	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 July 2015 — 2015 MSC benchmark 30 January 2010 — MSC pre-assessment is available
2. FIP Launch	Aug 16	Confirmation of project participants 11 August 2016 — Participants list updated 1 November 2009 — Whitefish Exporters Association (ASOEXPEBLA) and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Ecuador (FENACOPEC) are participants
2. FIP Launch	Jun 21	Workplan made public 1 June 2021 — Workplan updated 2021-2023 31 May 2018 — Ecuador mahi revised FIP Action Plan 2018 31 May 2014 — Annual action plan (updated version, 2014)
3. FIP Implementation	Feb 23	FIP activities undertaken 28 February 2023 — Fourteen training events have been held for the fishing sector, academia and control entities, from September 2022 to February 2023. 1 September 2022 — A pilot plan on dorado tagging is being implemented in cooperation with IPIAP (Ecuador) and IMARPE (Peru). 16 May 2022 — The FIP attended the 13th meeting of the IATTC SAC; member countries noted they're seeking to obtain the advice of the scientific staff to develop an update on estimating the status of the dorado population in the EPO. 1 April 2022 — Technical report produced on the National Action Plan for the conservation and management of the Ecuador mahi-mahi; catch data from 2017-2021 shows that the catch incidence for ETP species like sea turtles is low. 17 March 2022 — The 7th binational workshop held on biological-fisheries research for the mahi-mahi 1 February 2022 — Partial training was carried out for fishery inspectors in 2021 22 September 2021 — Agreement No. MPCEIP-SRP-2021-0208-A signed which updates and strengthens the current observer program for the longline fishery 30 August 2018 — The scientific staff of the IATTC presented during the annual meeting of the Commission the strategic research plan, which includes the development of reference points and harvest control rules for the mahi mahi in the Eastern Pacific. 5 April 2018 — During the mahi mahi FIP evaluation workshop, the SRP presented a report on the fishery's control and monitoring systems. 1 April 2018 — Circular hook efficiency survey to reduce incidental catches in the mahi mahi fishery. 21 March 2018 — The government of Ecuador requested that harvest control rules for the mahi mahi be included as an agenda item for the meeting of the scientific advisory committee. 21 March 2018 — Ecuadorian and Mexican scientists are working on a morphometric analysis of the sagitta otoliths. 1 July 2017 — IATTC science staff recommended reference points and harvest control rules for the fishery. 1 December 2015 — December 2015 Progress tracking report 1 August 2015 — 2015 progress tracking sheet 30 June 2014 — Progress tracking sheet 1 May 2014 — Final report on mahi-mahi aging, growth, and reproduction data delivered to FIP stakeholder
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Jul 21	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 14 July 2021 — Increase in PI 1.2.2; management measures are set and fixed for a long period of time and cover requirements of HCR (technical measures, size limits, closed seasons, hook type, etc.) 14 July 2021 — Increase in PI 1.2.1; Every five years the Ecuardian National Action Plan for Dolphin Fish is reviewed, in this case, in collaboration with WWF. Unwanted catch is marked as negligible in the currrent review. 14 July 2021 — Increase in PI 3.2.4; management strategy in place that makes it possible to conduct periodic evaluations and tackle monitoring, reduction of the impact on the marine ecosystem and education etc. 31 May 2018 — Ecuador has develop a harvest strategy for the mahi mahi that allows the likely scoring level for this PI to be regarded as conditional pass 19 July 2017 — The IATTC decided at its 92 annual meeting in July 2017 to ask the scientific staff to continue working on the preparation of a proposal for reference points and harvest control rules to be discussed at SAC 9 in May 2018 and agreed budget (first time) for the work 9 May 2016 — Exploratory stock assessment mahi mahi EPO. 9 May 2016 — Evaluate options to develop international agreement on shared stocks 1 October 2014 — Circle hook tariff removed 26 March 2014 — Implement and confirm turtle handling procedures 1 January 2013 — National action plan for management and conservation of mahi released (PI 3.1.3) 1 December 2011 — Establishment of a national observer program 1 January 2011 — Legal framework developed for mahi mahi
5. Improvements on the Water	Aug 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 18 August 2021 — Increase in PI 1.1.1; FIP notes that any productivity higher than the limit point is acceptable. Productivity is unrelated to stock size above the limit reference point. 1 December 2015 — Improved MSC BMT scores for management
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public