Association of Peruvian Anchovy Producers Pursues MSC Cer...(fishery) collapse in the 1990s. With its...),Health

"Ocean Nutrition has worked with the Association of Peruvian Anchovy Producers for more than a year now to discuss the opportunities an MSC ecolabel presents to both the association and ONC," said ONC's Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Emond. "MSC's blue eco-label is an excellent business tool that publicly demonstrates a business's or organization's open and honest commitment to sustainable, traceable seafood sources that will continue to be available to future generations. ONC proudly supports the Association of Peruvian Anchovy Producers in its decision to voluntarily pursue MSC certification. We are beyond pleased to be associated with an organization that takes its commitment to sustainability seriously enough to seek independent verification of its management practices."

The Association of Peruvian Anchovy Producers is a group of companies that produce and export anchovy products. In its boom years, the Peruvian anchovy fishery was the largest new fishery in the world. Before 1950, anchovies were mainly harvested for human consumption. When the California, USA, sardine fishery collapsed in 1950, Peruvian fishers acquired the boats and fishmeal producing equipment at bargain prices. The first fishmeal plants opened there in 1953 and within nine years, Peru became the top fishing nation in the world by volume. Due to fishing and environmental pressures (El Nino events), the Peruvian anchovy fishery collapsed in 1972. The government was forced to take drastic measures, going so far as to close the fishery, but with proper management, it has recovered. Even frequent El Nino events, especially in the 1990s, did not stop its progress, demonstrating that a well-managed fishery can withstand certain environmental pressures.