Communities of artisanal fishermen from Puerto Gala and Puerto Gaviota in the Aysén region, together with the organizations Oceana and Future of Fish (FoF) Chile and in alliance with the GEF/FAO Coastal Marine Governance Project, are carrying out a novel program that seeks to build a self-managed direct marketing channel for southern hake.
The initiative is in full development and has focused on highlighting the added value of the southern hake that is captured using selective fishing techniques, also guaranteeing the legal origin of fresh, quality fish. All in order to carry out sustainable artisanal fishing.
“The purpose is to highlight the artisanal activity of this fishery, highlighting the advantages of the product and seeking a complementary route of direct marketing between artisanal fishermen and fishermen and the final consumer, whether within the Aysén region or the rest of the country,” stated César Astete, Director of Oceana’s Fishing Campaigns in Chile. “There have been some pilot tests of this sales system that so far have been quite successful,” he added.
Since the project began, 900 kilos of southern hake fillets have been put on sale in different locations in the Aysén region and in the Metropolitan region. Additionally, each fillet came vacuum sealed and the label had a QR code that, when scanned, displayed the name and photo of the fisherman, the date of extraction, the fishing location, as well as videos and extra information. To evaluate the quality of the final product, a survey was conducted among prominent chefs in the Aysén region, who gave a score of 5 out of a maximum of 5 points. In the next few days another 800 kilos will be added to the sale.
“During last weekend and the beginning of this week, fishing was carried out in Puerto Gaviota and Puerto Gala to advance with a third line of logistics and marketing,” said Iván Greco, Campaign Coordinator at FoF Chile. “We also spoke with local fishermen and women about the steps to come and the alliances that we must look to the future,” he added.
What’s coming
These days, the Oceana and FoF Chile team held meetings with different public and private organizations in the region with the aim of joining forces to support artisanal fishing in the Aysén region, specifically, in Gala and Gaviota.
The organizations highlighted the great work being carried out by the artisanal fishermen of Puerto Gala and Puerto Gaviota and hope that during the year they can make progress in consolidating the initiative and attracting public support. Part of the experience of this program is condensed in the report “Traceability and value chains in the artisanal southern hake fishery, Aysén region.”
Photography: Oceana.
