Peruvian mahi product exporter Altamar Foods Perú has signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in support of a mahi fishery improvement project (FIP).
The Peru-based FIP is WWF-led and focuses on a fishery that supports 4,200 fishermen in the South American country. The fishery, which is a leading source of the world’s mahi, acts as a key link in the marine food chain by providing sustenance for sharks, dolphins, and other ocean predators. Like Ecuador, Peru is a top exporter of mahi to the United States, supplying more than USD 90 million (EUR 81 million) worth of the species to its northern neighbor in 2017.
“We are very excited to support this fishery improvement project (FIP),” Altamar Foods Perú Founder and President Alberto Pescatore said. “We are continuing to grow our global presence and developing new markets in the Americas and Europe so becoming leaders in the seafood sustainability movement in Peru is naturally the next step for our growing operations.”
“Our customers not only care about our high-quality seafood products, but it is also important to them that they are responsibly sourced,” Altamar Foods Perú Sales Director Fabrizio Biella added. “We became a FishChoice Supplier Member so that our team and our customers can have access to the real-time sustainability ratings associated with our products. These assessments help inform our sourcing and determine which areas we can improve and develop strategies moving forward. We also look forward to continuing to work with WWF to pilot a traceability system in Peru.”
Courtesy of the new agreement, Altamar will help the FIP by leveraging its industry-leader status to spur lasting advances, according to WWF Peru’s Marine Program Director Aimée Leslie.
“Altamar Foods is one of the first Peruvian-based companies to officially support the mahi FIP and we are excited to help them leverage their leadership to create real change in this fishery,” Leslie said. “We hope that Altamar will create more champions for this effort amongst Peruvian mahi exporters.”
A frozen seafood production and export specialist company, Altamar Foods Perú will be exhibiting at the upcoming Seafood Expo North America event in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. from 15 to17 March at Booth #2513. Altamar’s U.S. branch will also be exhibiting at the event at Booth #2913.
Photo courtesy of Altamar Foods Perú
