Ecuador is Implementing the Integrated Aquaculture and Fisheries System (SIAP) to Combat Illegal Fishing

The implementation of the Integrated Aquaculture and Fisheries System (SIAP) in Ecuador is in its final phase and is expected to conclude in July 2023. This groundbreaking system will enable the monitoring of the country's fishing activity digitally, eradicating illegal fishing and leading to the withdrawal of the yellow card imposed by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission in 2019 due to the lack of necessary controls in this sector.

The SIAP, crucial for the fishing industry, will become a fundamental tool to track and control the entire fishing production chain in Ecuador. Julio José Prado, Minister of Production, highlights that this system will provide unprecedented digital traceability, allowing to know the origin of the tuna, who transported it, how it was processed, and in what packaging it was exported.

This advancement marks a turning point in the Ecuadorian public sphere. Fishing companies had until the end of June to implement the SIAP and comply with the 116 processes related to fishing activity, which will now be digitized. One of these processes is the guide for the mobilization of fishery products, essential for the transportation and processing of fish caught in open sea. The primary objective is to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and to promote transparency throughout the value chain.

The SIAP covers both industrial and artisanal fishing. Currently, industrial fishing vessels are already equipped with satellite monitoring devices that allow for their geolocation and integration with the SIAP. However, there is still a need to equip over 40,000 artisanal fishing vessels with these devices. Julio José Prado emphasizes the intention to use resources from the debt-for-conservation swap for the Galapagos Islands to provide the artisanal fishing sector with satellite monitoring devices.