Tunacons prueba “plantados” hechos de fibra de abacá – Tunacons test “FADS” made from abaca fiber.

En Ecuador (Suramérica) hay una organización gremial que representa los intereses de 7 grandes empresas dedicadas a la pesca del atún con fines comerciales. Se trata de Tunacons, nombre contraído de la expresión inglesa Tuna Conservation o, dicho en español, “conservación atunera”.

Nació como un proyecto corriente de pesquería sostenible, pero ante el apremio mundial por la preservación de las especies marinas muy amenazadas tuvo que transformarse en Fundación para la pesca sostenible de atún, conservando el nombre original.

Con esta última finalidad contrajo voluntariamente varios compromisos para cumplir a lo largo del año 2021 que acaba de terminar, entre ellos reemplazar el 20 % de los Dispositivos Agregadores de Peces (DAP), también conocidos como “plantados” -que normalmente son elaborados utilizando material sintético-, sustituyéndolos con versiones eco-amigables (EcoFAD) elaboradas a base de una fibra vegetal a la que suele llamarse cáñamo de manila o abacá, que desde hace algunos años es cultivada de forma extensiva en territorio ecuatoriano.

Plantado cosido con fibras de abacá. / FOTO: Tunacons / Ecuador

Acerca de los plantados

La pesquería de atún alrededor del mundo usa los “plantados” (también llamados FAD por sus siglas en inglés) como una herramienta útil para su actividad. En la jerga pesquera se los llama con ese nombre porque son anclados para flotar en un punto fijo del océano, donde generan sombra bajo la cual se amontonan muchos peces pequeños que sirven de carnada para atraer a los atunes, que aglomerados allí son capturados por los pescadores.

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A pesar de la iniciativa de uso de materiales degradables puesta en práctica por las flotas pesqueras de otros océanos, el compromiso formal de Tunacons, de usar EcoFAD, marca un hito que confirma el camino de la industria pesquera hacia prácticas más sostenibles.

La investigación sobre materiales degradables de origen vegetal lleva ya cuatro años en desarrollo. El equipo técnico de Tunacons ha realizado múltiples pruebas de resistencia de diversos materiales, incluyendo las conocidas fibras de cabuya y yute, pero se concluyó -como se lo evidencia en los videos del canal de YouTube de la Fundación- que el abacá es el más resistente ante la alcalinidad del agua de mar.

Prensado del tejido de abacá. / VIDEO: Tunacons / Ecuador

El próximo paso del proceso será realizar un monitoreo de los EcoFAD sembrados o “plantados”, para analizar su resistencia y niveles de captura, y luego continuar ampliando el despliegue de una mayor cantidad de este tipo de plantados.

Acerca de Tunacons

Guillermo Morán V. / FOTO: Tunacons

Con el liderazgo de Guillermo Morán Velasquez como director, Tunacons espera alcanzar, en el segundo trimestre de 2022, la primera certificación de Marine Stewardship Council (Consejo de Administración Marina) para la pesca responsable.

La Fundación está conformada por 5 miembros plenos, entre nacionales y extranjeros, a saber: Negocios Industriales Real, S.A.; Eurofish y Servigrup de Ecuador; Pesquera Jadran de Panamá y Trimarine de EEUU. También se unieron, el año recién pasado, 2 nuevos miembros adherentes que son Manacripex y Marbelize.

FUENTE: Tunacons (Guayaquil, Ecuador), mediante comunicado, fotos y video con firma de Mayi Zambrano V. (mzambrano@tunacons.org), quien los envió a REVISTA DE MANABÍ.

In Ecuador (South America) there is a trade organization that represents the interests of 7 large companies dedicated to commercial tuna fishing. It is Tunacons, a name contracted from the English expression Tuna Conservation or, in Spanish, “conservación atunera”.

It was born as an ordinary project for sustainable fisheries, but in view of the global pressure for the preservation of highly threatened marine species, it had to be transformed into the Foundation for Sustainable Tuna Fishing, keeping the original name.

With this last purpose, it voluntarily made several commitments to be fulfilled during the year 2021, which has just ended, including replacing 20% of the Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD), also known as “fad” -which are normally made using synthetic material-, replacing them with eco-friendly versions (EcoFAD) made from a vegetable fiber that is usually called manila hemp or abaca, which for some years has been extensively cultivated in Ecuadorian territory.

FAD sewn with abaca fibers / PHOTOGRAPH: Tunacons / Ecuador
About FADs
The tuna fishery around the world uses “FADs” (also called FADs) as a useful tool for its activity. In fishing jargon they are so called because they are anchored to float on a fixed point in the ocean, where they generate shade under which many small fish are piled up to serve as bait to attract tuna, which are caught by fishermen.

Despite the initiative to use degradable materials implemented by fishing fleets in other oceans, Tunacons’ formal commitment to use EcoFAD marks a milestone that confirms the fishing industry’s path towards more sustainable practices.

Research into degradable plant-based materials has been underway for four years. Tunacons’ technical team has conducted multiple resistance tests on various materials, including the well-known cabuya and jute fibers, but concluded – as evidenced in videos on the Foundation’s YouTube channel – that abaca is the most resistant to the alkalinity of seawater.


The next step in the process will be to monitor the EcoFADs to analyze their resistance and capture levels, and then continue to expand the deployment of a larger number of these types of plants.

About Tunacons

With the leadership of Guillermo Morán Velasquez as director, Tunacons expects to achieve, in the second quarter of 2022, the first Marine Stewardship Council certification for responsible fishing.

The Foundation is made up of 5 full members, among nationals and foreigners, namely: Negocios Industriales Real, S.A.; Eurofish and Servigrup from Ecuador; Pesquera Jadran from Panama and Trimarine from the USA. Two new adherent members, Manacripex and Marbelize, also joined last year.

SOURCE: Tunacons (Guayaquil, Ecuador), through a press release, photos and video signed by Mayi Zambrano V. (mzambrano@tunacons.org), who sent them to REVISTA DE MANABÍ.

‘Cuidando Galápagos’, iniciativa pesquera para la conservación integral – Caring for Galapagos’, a fisheries initiative for integrated conservation

La basura oceánica y la sobreexplotación pesquera están entre los principales factores que amenazan el equilibrio de los ecosistemas marinos en todo el mundo, en especial, de las zonas con alta riqueza faunística.

Tal es el caso del archipiélago de Galápagos y su reserva marina, donde viven más de 3.500 especies de animales y flora, registrados oficialmente. Por ello, la conservación de su naturaleza es una labor de las autoridades de Gobierno, oenegés y del sector privado.

A esta actividad se ha sumado decididamente una coalición de organizaciones del sector pesquero artesanal e industrial, que lanzaron la iniciativa ‘Cuidando Galápagos’.

El objetivo: reducir la contaminación marina a través de la recolección de basura oceánica y de plantados varados en alta mar, así como asistencia técnica para el manejo sostenible de las pesquerías artesanales en el archipiélago.

Para el desarrollo e implementación de la iniciativa se unieron el Grupo de Conservación del Atún (Tunacons), la Corporación de Organizaciones de Pesca Artesanal de Galápagos (Corpag), la Federación Nacional de Cooperativas Pesqueras del Ecuador (Fenacopec), la Cámara Nacional de Pesquería (CNP) y la Asociación de Atuneros del Ecuador (Atunec).

Guillermo Morán, gerente de Tunacons, explicó que el primer componente de ‘Cuidando Galápagos’ es recoger la basura del océano antes de que llegue a las islas y bajar el impacto que estos desechos generan en el ecosistema.

Según datos del Parque Nacional Galápagos, en 2021, se recolectaron 13 toneladas de desechos en las jornadas de limpieza que se realizaron en las playas, zonas de manglar y otros lugares de la provincia.

Por el lado de los plantados, que son sistemas de atracción de atún para facilitar su pesca, se estima que la flota atunera ecuatoriana utiliza entre 5.000 y 6.000 unidades al año, y que a Galápagos llegan menos del uno por ciento.

“Pero así sea pequeña la cantidad, vamos a trabajar para que la incidencia de los plantados sea cero”, aseguró Morán.

Para ejecutar este trabajo el aporte de los pescadores artesanales será fundamental, pues ellos se encargarán de recolectar la basura oceánica y los plantados en alta mar y también la basura submarina , explicó Juan Carlos Torres, presidente de la Corpag.

Los desechos se trasladarán hasta un centro de acopio y clasificación para reutilizar el material reciclable y hacer la disposición adecuada de los materiales que ya no se pueden usar. Por este, trabajo los pescadores recibirán un incentivo económico.

En Galápagos, hay alrededor de 700 pescadores artesanales activos, y están registradas 400 embarcaciones.

El rol de los armadores de barcos, que son parte de Tunacons, CNP y de Atunec, será reportar la presencia de los desechos antes de que entren a zonas cercanas a las islas, enviar las coordenadas y establecer una coordinación para la captación de los mismos .

El trabajo de recolección comenzará en marzo , luego de culminar la compra de equipos, la capacitación a los pescadores y definir la estrategia con las cooperativas de pescadores artesanales.

$!Guillermo Morán, gerente de Tunacons, explicó los componentes de la iniciativa en el lanzamiento de 'Cuidando Galápagos'.

Mejoramiento pesquero

El segundo componente de ‘Cuidando Galápagos’ es trabajar en proyectos de mejoramiento pesquero (FIP, por sus siglas en inglés) en las pesquerías donde actualmente falta información sobre su captura o no hay planes de manejo.

En la actualidad, solo las pesquerías de langosta y pepino de mar cuentan con medidas de ordenamiento para el cuidado de la especie en el archipiélago.

Pero hay otros recursos pesqueros como el langostino, pulpo, bacalao, guajo, lisa, etcétera, cuyo estado de la población es desconocido y por tal motivo no hay regulación pesquera.

Morán manifestó que la idea es trabajar en la creación de los FIP’s para la lograr una pesquería sostenible, para lo cual se necesita establecer sistemas de información y trazabilidad, estrategias de mejora competitivas enfocadas en eco eficiencia y que cuentan con una certificación.

Paralelamente, el sector pesquero debe trabajar de forma conjunta con el Parque Nacional Galápagos y la Subsecretaría de Recursos Pesqueros para establecer controles, monitoreos y sanciones a fin de lograr una buena administración de las pesquerías.

Dana Zambrano, subsecretaria de Recursos Pesqueros, expresó su respaldo a la iniciativa, de la cual espera que también se extienda hasta la generación de negocios para los pescadores. “Ahí vamos a dar nuestro apoyo, nuestra asesoría técnica en el fomento productivo”, agregó.

En todos los componentes de ‘Cuidando Galápagos’ se cuenta con el acompañamiento del Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza (WWF), que brinda su asistencia técnica.

$!Guillermo Morán, gerente de Tunacons, explicó los componentes de la iniciativa en el lanzamiento de 'Cuidando Galápagos'.
galapagos tunacons


Ocean trash and overfishing are among the main factors threatening the balance of marine ecosystems around the world, especially in areas with high faunal richness.

Such is the case of the Galapagos archipelago and its marine reserve, home to more than 3,500 officially registered species of animals and flora. For this reason, the conservation of nature is a task for government authorities, NGOs, and the private sector.
A coalition of organizations from the artisanal and industrial fishing sector has joined in this activity, launching the ‘Caring for Galapagos’ initiative.
The objective: to reduce marine pollution through the collection of ocean garbage and FADs stranded in the high seas, as well as technical assistance for the sustainable management of artisanal fisheries in the archipelago.

The Tuna Conservation Group (Tunacons), the Corporation of Artisanal Fishing Organizations of Galapagos (Corpag), the National Federation of Fishing Cooperatives of Ecuador (Fenacopec), the National Chamber of Fisheries (CNP), and the Association of Tuna Farmers of Ecuador (Atunec) joined forces to develop and implement the initiative.

Guillermo Morán, manager of Tunacons, explained that the first component of “Caring for Galapagos” is to collect garbage from the ocean before it reaches the islands and reduce the impact that this waste has on the ecosystem.
According to data from the Galapagos National Park, in 2021, 13 tons of waste were collected in the cleanup days that took place on the beaches, mangrove areas and other places in the province.

As for FADs, which are systems for attracting tuna to facilitate their fishing, it is estimated that the Ecuadorian tuna fleet uses between 5,000 and 6,000 units per year, and that less than one percent arrive in Galapagos.

“But even if the amount is small, we are going to work so that the incidence of FADs is zero,” said Morán.

To carry out this work, the contribution of artisanal fishermen will be fundamental, since they will be in charge of collecting ocean garbage and FADs in the high seas, as well as underwater garbage, explained Juan Carlos Torres, president of Corpag.

The waste will be taken to a collection and classification center to reuse the recyclable material and properly dispose of the materials that can no longer be used. The fishermen will receive an economic incentive for this work.

There are approximately 700 active artisanal fishermen in Galapagos, and 400 boats are registered.
The role of the boat owners, who are part of Tunacons, CNP and Atunec, will be to report the presence of the waste before it enters areas near the islands, send the coordinates and establish coordination for the collection of the waste.


The collection work will begin in March, after the purchase of equipment, the training of fishermen and the definition of the strategy with the artisanal fishermen’s cooperatives.

Guillermo Morán, manager of Tunacons, explained the components of the initiative at the launch of ‘Caring for Galapagos’.
Fisheries improvement
The second component of ‘Caring for Galapagos’ is to work on fishery improvement projects (FIPs) in fisheries where there is currently a lack of catch information or management plans.

Currently, only the lobster and sea cucumber fisheries have management measures in place to protect the species in the archipelago.
But there are other fishery resources such as shrimp, octopus, cod, wahoo, mullet, etc., whose population status is unknown and for this reason there is no fishing regulation.

Morán said that the idea is to work on the creation of FIPs to achieve a sustainable fishery, for which it is necessary to establish information and traceability systems, competitive improvement strategies focused on eco-efficiency and that have a certification.
At the same time, the fishing sector must work together with the Galapagos National Park and the Undersecretary of Fisheries Resources to establish controls, monitoring and sanctions to achieve good fisheries management.

Dana Zambrano, Undersecretary of Fisheries Resources, expressed her support for the initiative, which she hopes will also extend to the generation of business for fishermen. “There we are going to give our support, our technical advice in productive development,” she added.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) provides technical assistance for all the components of “Caring for Galapagos”.

Taking care of Galapagos Iniciative Lauch

The initiative’s action plan contemplates 3 main axes,
1) Collection of FADs to avoid affecting the coastal areas of the islands.
2) Collection of garbage on the seabed.
3) Development of fishery improvement projects (FIPs) in artisanal fisheries in Galapagos.
 
The mechanism of this initiative of TUNACONS together with CNP and ATUNEC and the artisanal fishing guilds of Galapagos is a pioneer in the world because it generates an alliance between two fishing sectors.
 
This action in Ecuador paves the way for other fisheries in other parts of the world to develop it as well.
 

This is the original streaming of the event. Remember you can set subtitles in english on the youtube video settings.

video with simultaneous translation into English ⬇️

On Saturday, February 19th, 2022 the “Taking care of Galapagos” initiative was launched in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation signed at the 3rd Ecuadorian Fisheries Summit.
The promoters and managers of the plan are:
Foundation for Sustainable Tuna Fishing TUNACONS,
Corporation of Artisanal Fishermen of Galapagos CORPAG,
Federation of Artisanal Fishing Cooperatives and Organizations of Ecuador FENACOPEC,  
National Chamber of Fisheries CNP, and
Asociación de Armadores del Ecuador ATUNEC
Although the incidence of FADs arriving off the coast of the Galapagos Islands is minimal, accounting for less than 1% of the FADs in the Ecuadorian fleet, the aim of this project is to reduce their presence completely.
 

The communication process will start with the captain of the Ecuadorian tuna vessel because 100% of the Ecuadorian tuna vessels are cooperating with this initiative. The captain notifies his fleet manager, who in turn notifies the project coordinator in Galapagos, who will coordinate with the Galapagos artisanal fishing cooperatives to mobilize a boat that will lift the FAD to take it to land where its materials will be sorted into recyclable and discarded.

The mechanism of this initiative of TUNACONS together with CNP and ATUNEC and the artisanal fishing guilds of Galapagos is a pioneer in the world because it generates an alliance between two fishing sectors.

This action in Ecuador paves the way for other fisheries in other parts of the world to develop it as well.

Regarding the collection of garbage on the seabed in the marine reserve, it is another example of support to reduce pollution, which is today the main threat to all oceans as highlighted by research published in Nature Sustainability, which provides the first integrated global diagnosis on the origin and composition of garbage dumped in the ocean.
On the surface of the sea, plastics make up 95% of the debris.  This is according to a new global study that puts figures on the composition of marine litter. Plastic is by far the dominant material in the oceans. The problem is well diagnosed. The bulk of the pollution is caused by single-use bags, bottles, food packaging, and food wrappings (Article from lavanguardia.com).  The process in this action will be to carry out periodic brigades of divers to collect coastal marine debris that will later be recycled or disposed of as appropriate.
 
The axis of technical advice for artisanal fishermen will focus on the design and implementation of “Fishery Improvement Projects” abbreviated FIPs for its acronym in English. This will allow them to have a clear and updated diagnosis of the current situation of the target species of their fishery through a pre-assessment of the fishery, then a plan of action to be implemented by the fishermen to achieve a sustainable fishing certification that will add value and open international markets to local fishermen.

The national fishing sector has joined together to collaborate in the care of the Galapagos and its marine areas as another act of responsibility for this treasure of humanity.

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