Chilean Anchovy and Sardine (southern and central)
Fishery Improvement Project

Last Update: April 2013

Species:
anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)
sardine (Strangomera bentincki)
 
FIP Scope/Scale: Fishery level
 
Fishery Location: Chile, Regions V – X, for map see this link Anchoveta - Chilean regions V-X , or Araucanian herring - Chilean  
 
FIP Contact:  If you would like more information about the FIP or wish to support the FIP, please contact SFP.
 
FIP Participants:
  • FIPASUR (Artisanal Fishers Federation)
  • SIPACERVAL
Stakeholders:
  • National Confederations of Artisanal Fishermen (CONAPACH and CONFEPACH)
  • Subpesca (Undersecretary for Fisheries)
  • National Fisheries Council
  • Blumar (fishing company with fishmeal processing plant close to Valdivia)
  • Zonal Fisheries Council
  • NGO Conservacion Marina
Sustainability Information:
See Summary and Sustainability Info tabs at these links Anchoveta - Chilean regions V-X and Araucanian herring - Chilean  
 
Date Publicly Announced: 2008

FIP Stage: 4, FIP is delivering improvement in policies or practices
 
Current Improvement Recommendations:
  • Develop and implement recovery plan for anchovy stock since this fishery is under SSB limit
  • Implement a management plan including a harvest strategy
  • Establish size closures
  • Conduct ecosystem impact research
Background:
Since the collapse of the Chilean jack mackerel fishery at the end of the 2000s, anchovy in the north and sardine in the south are now the most important Chilean fishmeal fisheries. For 2013, the TAC for southern central sardine has been established at 605,000 tonnes. However, the southern central anchovy stock the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was decreased from half a million in 2010 to just 70,000 tonnes in 2011, and been increased for 2013 to 120,000 tonnes. Southern central stock of anchovy and sardine TACs are split between the industrial (now 22%, formerly 35%) and the artisanal (now 78%, formerly 65%) fisheries.

These species normally thrive in the same ecological niche, but while the sardine stock is in good condition, the anchovy stock is suffering from depletion. The fishery is operating with artisanal (up to 18 meters in length) and industrial purse seiners so it is very difficult to avoid catching anchovy when catching sardines, except by changing operation zones. The challenge for this fishery is to address ways to recover anchovy stocks while caring for the ecosystems that support these small pelagic populations.

After initial contact between FIPASUR and CeDePesca in 2008, in December 2009 CeDePesca and SFP signed a FIP agreement with FIPASUR and SIPACERVAL, artisanal fishermen organizations accounting for landings of 70,000 tonnes in the Valdivia region. FIPASUR is a very important regional federation, not only for anchovy and sardine but other fisheries as well. Politically they are able to influence the government and other artisanal and industrial players.
 
While currently all catches are used for fishmeal production in the Blumar factory located in Corral, the aforementioned partner organizations are interested in getting better market opportunities for their product, including demand for certified fishmeal and human direct consumption.

In 2011, Subpesca authorized artisanal newcomers to operate in this fishery and, therefore, FIPASUR’s membership increased, causing some conflict between the veterans and legal newcomers for the redistribution of fishing quotas (the same quota divided among more fishermen).
 
FIP Objectives:
  • Develop and implement a recovery plan for anchovy stock since this fishery is under the Stock Biomass (SSB) limit
  • Implement a management plan including a harvest strategy
  • Push the fishery management authority to establish TACs for both species to follow scientific advice
  • Establish size closures
  • Push fishery operators to report their landings, particularly in Conception port (300 miles north of Valdivia), where most of the artisanal and industrial fleet operate.
  • Conduct ecosystem impact research
  • Install observers at least on the biggest artisanal boats.
Progress Update:
 
2009
  • In April and June 2009, the profile for Chilean anchovy and sardine was available publicly on FishSource.com.
  • In December 2009, CeDePesca and SFP signed a FIP agreement with FIPASUR and SIPACERVAL, which made this a formal FIP.
2010
  • An MSC pre-assessment was done in September 2010. Based on its findings, CeDePesca, SFP, and FIPASUR hosted a workshop to develop an improvement plan and propose future efforts. While the sardine fishery could be individually certified after some adjustments, the anchovy stock needs a recovery plan.
  • In October 2010, improvement plan agreed among FIP participants.
  • In November 2010, FIP participants and CeDePesca met Subpesca to present the results of the MSC pre-assessment and improvement plan. The participants asked Subpesca for support to address the main issues. Letters about the same issue have been sent to fishery managers.
  • At the end of 2010, the National Fishery Council approved an 80-percent cut to the 2011 TAC for anchovy and 5 percent for associated species (sardine).
2011
  • In May 2011, CeDePesca, SFP, and FIPASUR hosted a workshop to discuss sustainability issues
  • At the end of 2011, the 2012 TAC for sardine was increased to around 18 percent above the 2011 level, meeting scientific recommendations, while the TAC for anchovy was kept at the 2011 level.
2012
 
April – June
  • In April 2012, the TAC for sardine was substantially increased from 605,000 to 1,050,000 tonnes after IFOP´s survey showed an increase of biomass.. Consequently, and against a precautionary approach, the quota for anchovy was increased in July 2012 by 11 percent to satisfy the need for a higher bycatch quota in the sardine fishery.
  • In June 2012, a Decree established a closure for 22 days to protect juveniles.
July – September
  • In August 2012, FIPASUR asked the governmental Fund for Fisheries Management (FAP) and the Regional Government of Los Rios to include, within potential future grants, some funding supporting the certification process. The request was favorably received and consequently FIPASUR applied for funding for full assessment of the sardine fishery.
 October – December 
  • In October 2012, the application for funds in order to pay an MSC full assessment was rejected by the regional grants body because some local reviewers gave priority to other projects in the regions, but apparently the governmental Fund for Fisheries Management (FAP) would be interested in including this project in the 2013 program.
     
  • In December 2012, the 2013 TAC for sardine was set at 605,000 tonnes, following IFOP’s advice. Instead, the 2013 TAC for anchovy was set against a precautionary approach at 120,000 tonnes (an increase of 50,000 tonnes in relation to the 2011 TAC), in order to satisfy the need for a higher bycatch quota in the sardine fishery
2013
 
January – March
 
In January, CeDePesca and Subpesca´s director for small pelagic fisheries, Jose Acevedo, had a meeting to discuss the necessary improvements for the fishery.
 
In January, CeDePesca and the Zonal Fisheries Council had a meeting to discuss the necessary improvements for the fishery  
 
In February, a member of the FIP, Claudio Barrientos, was elected as a member of the advisory council for regional fisheries policy. 
 
 
 
Click here for a comprehensive description of FIP results