SmartFish, a dynamic social intermediary in Mexico, is revolutionizing the supply chain. Their mission: simplifying the process to guarantee top-notch products while empowering fishermen to earn more by working less. This strategic shift breaks the cycle of poverty and overexploitation. In a close partnership with SmartFish AC NGO, they’re pioneering a triple-impact model—driving environmental, social, and economic advancements within artisanal fisheries organizations and cooperatives.
Operating exclusively with legal and well-organized cooperatives that either boast sustainable certified species or are in the certification pipeline, this visionary model enables:
Empowering Fishers
Equipping fishers to harvest and process premium seafood using the cutting-edge ike jime method and certified export-grade facilities.
Fair Compensation
Ensuring fair remuneration for fishers and processors, drastically reducing the value chain and enabling cooperatives to earn up to a staggering 300% more than prevailing market rates.
Community Employment
Pioneering job opportunities in local communities, particularly for women, fostering economic growth.
Through an unwavering commitment to transparency and traceability, buyers can now leverage their responsible sourcing commitment to champion the sustainability of marine ecosystems and uplift the lives of fishers and their families.
Jurel-Amberjack Yellowtail from Guaymas, Sonora
In Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, buyers can now access responsibly sourced Jurel through the innovative Mexico Guaymas finfish – handline Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) powered by SmartFish. This fishery, once reliant on traditional artisanal methods like handline (hook and line), has elevated its sustainability quotient, being recognized as one of the most selective and successful fishing approaches with high survival rates post-release.
The primary species targeted using this artisanal handline method in Guaymas include Amberjack Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi, Jurel), red snapper (Lutjanus peru), Goldspotted sand bass (Paralabrax auroguttatus), ocean whitefish (Calolatilus princeps), and Rooster hind (Hyporthodus acanthistius).
The overarching goal of the FIP is to amass critical biological and population data on these species, driving informed management strategies. They’re diligently implementing all 28 performance indicators of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard, aiming for full certification of this fishery by the ambitious target of 2024.
This project isn’t just part of a FIP—it’s a strategic alignment with Iberostar’s goals, transcending SDG 14. By establishing a multispecies FIP, fishing cooperatives gain resilience in the face of climate change and fluctuating water temperatures, impacting fishing seasons and species availability. These FIP advancements empower cooperatives to adapt, ensuring continued market access and contributing to SDG 13.
SmartFish is going beyond sourcing; they’re empowering fishing cooperatives to have their own processing plants. This initiative has a dual impact—generating essential jobs in coastal communities and providing access to nutritious local food, in harmony with SDGs 8 and 10.
**** I originally wrote this copy for Iberostar’s 2022 Annual Seafood Report and I’ve adapted it for this blog.
Photo Credit: SmartFish A.C.