RESUME OF INFOPESCA

INTRODUCTION

INFOPESCA is a Latin American intergovernmental organization, registered under number 31660 in the United Nations Register of International Treaties and Agreements. It has a vocation to serve governments, industry associations and companies, in all aspects of fisheries and aquaculture development. It has more than 45 years of experience in the fisheries sector. INFOPESCA was created as a FAO project in 1977 and the institution became an intergovernmental organization in 1994.

It is made up of 11 member countries from Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela; however, INFOPESCA does not limit its activities to the region, and also transfers the knowledge and experience generated to the entire world.

The headquarters are located in Montevideo, Uruguay. It has a permanent multidisciplinary staff and highly qualified consultants in all Latin American countries and other regions.

INFOPESCA is competent in the sectors of Development Strategies, Production, Processing Technology, Inspection and Quality Control, and Marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.

For the development of Fisheries and Aquaculture Projects, with international, national or private financing, INFOPESCA is based on:

• Liaison officers in all Latin American and Caribbean countries
• A worldwide network of specialized consulting companies
• A network of associated independent consultants
• An exceptional updated database on the different aspects of the fisheries and aquaculture sector
• Member of FISHINFO network (also includes INFOFISH in Asia, INFOPECHE in Africa, INFOSAMAK in the Arab Countries, EUROFISH in Eastern Europe and INFOYU in Continental China).
• A permanent exchange with the main fishing and aquaculture chambers of the region

 

RECENT ACTIVITIES OF INFOPESCA

2023-2024: Studies of domestic and export markets for Guyanese seabob conducted, the industrial research plan revised, the Fisheries Department communication strategy drafted for partnering with actors in the Guyana seabob value chain, and the strategic vision and marketing plan for export developed for GATOSP

2023: Study reports associated with international trade of fisheries and aquaculture products: 1) Support and advice through technical cooperation, logistics and activities linked to trade-related topics carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean; 2) Collection and update of prices of selected species and historical trends for Latin America and the Caribbean; 3) Quarterly reports on the regional market for tilapia and shrimps, and global report for salmon to be released in the GLOBEFISH Highlights; 4)  Monthly contribution on salmon and trout for the “European Price Report”; 5) Dissemination of FAO reports and publications within the INFOPESCA networks, and contribution to the FIN INFO Network. Cliente: FAO-GLOBEFISH.

2023: Sponsorship, technical and logistical support, and participation in the International Fish Congress & Fish Expo (IFC Amazônia), December 3-5, Hangar Centro de Convenções e Feiras da Amazônia, Belém do Pará, Brazil. Client: FAO.

2023: Participation as an exhibitor at the World Seafood Congress 2023 (WSC2023), September, Peniche, Portugal. INFOPESCA was part of the session “Advances in safety, science, technology and use of aquatic products” with the presentation on “Development of strategies for the inclusion of fish and fishery products in school feeding”, where the main conclusions of the Project TCP/INT/3605 (D) with the same name were shared, in which our organization provided technical support.

2023: Participation in the regional workshop “Strengthening fishing ports in the traceability processes of the value chain”, within the framework of the Blue Ports Initiative, June, Manta, Ecuador. Initiative promoted by FAO with the support of The Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability (SALT) and the Ecuadorian Chamber of Tuna Industrialists and Processors (CEIPA). INFOPESCA moderated a round table on the challenges of the fishery industry within the framework of the traceability of fishery products, and the role of fishing ports, and presented about the transparency and traceability of the supply chain and market perspectives.

2022-2023-2024: “Improving Seafood Toxicology and Safety Measures in Selected Fisheries" component of Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (Prop) Project. Client: Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resource Development, Kiribati, with funds of World Bank.

2023: Participation as a speaker in a virtual workshop on “Capacity Building to Improve Economic Reactivation, Resilience and Sustainability of Aquaculture Within the Context of Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Event organized jointly by Equilibrium SDC and the Ministry of Production of Peru, framed in the project of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) of the same name.

2023: Consultancy on "Decent work in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Latin America and the Caribbean". Cases of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Client: OIT.

2022-2023: "Compilation of experiences and initiatives related to production, traceability and promotion of direct human consumption of anchovy, flying squid, loco, sea urchin and macroalgae in Peru and Chile". Client: UNDP.

2022-2023: Hiring consultancy on advice on the development of policies for fishery and aquaculture products, which support state governance, international insertion, and development of the sector. Client: MGAP-DINARA, Uruguay.

2022: Joint production of multimedia. Video: "Organized small-scale fisheries: Andresito Consumer Fisheries Cooperative (COOPESCONAND)". Material produced as an example of associativism. Client: MGAP-DINARA, Uruguay. https://youtu.be/CDabc_CVm2o

2022: Joint research: Fisheries policy situation in South American countries responding to the CPTPP; Focusing on Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Client: Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

2022: Joint research: The Future International Cooperation Projects to Improve Small Scale Fisheries Management in Latin America. Client: Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

2022: “Support of the revision of the ASFIS List of Species, with main focus on Latin American and Caribbean species, including the coordination and revision of the codification system of the list, the revision of orders and families, the revision of the species scientific names and their authors.” Client: FAO.

2022: Support of compilation of 25 fisheries country profiles. Client: FAO.

2022: “Support in the preparation of three short reports on global historical trends in fish production (aquaculture and capture) and trade with special emphasis on Latin America”. Client: FAO.

2022: Report on “Renewable energy in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture: case studies”. Client FAO.

2022: Provision of The design of a climate proof fish and seafood buying station. Client: FAO.

2021-2023: Implementation of the project “Support To CARIFORUM Countries To Improve Laboratory Testing Capacity For The Fisheries And Aquaculture Sector”, financed by the EU and implemented through IICA.

2021-2022: Triple Consultancy: a) Analysis of market and trade information needs for the government and industry in the Latin America region; b) Analysis of trade agreements in Latin America region; c) Analysis of exports of fisheries and aquaculture products and means of transportation. Client: FAO.

2021: Activity “Generating knowledge on nutritional composition and full utilization of farmed tilapia for enhancing food security and nutrition: experience from Mesoamerica”. Client: FAO

2021: Market study on sustainability and competitive position of the Peruvian mahi - mahi in the United States. Client: PROMPERÚ.

2020-2021 Implementation of technical training of the inspection service of Peru, a project financed by Canada EDM, and implemented through holding remote training courses in Peru.

2021: Support to the organization of a regional workshop on “National and regional good practices in seafood traceability in the Caribbean. Client: FAO.

2021: Cooperation in Event: Operation: Korea International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries, Latin American Session. Client: Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

2020: Presentation of the results of an exploratory study on the value chain in artisanal fishing in Guatemala. Client: FAO.

2020: Participation in the virtual seminar: "Impact of COVID-19 on fish trade", organized by FAO-GLOBEFISH, together with INFOPESCA, EUROFISH, INFOFISH, INFOSAMAK and the Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU). Client: FAO.

2020: Preparation of a regional report on the fishing industry in South America: current status, problems, laws and regulations. Client: Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

2020: Co-organization of the Korea-Latin America Fisheries Forum (KOLAFF) 2020. Client: Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

2020: Organizing questionnaires and trainings on the impact of COVID19 on fish consumption and markets, and preparing a concept note to improve markets and consumption by linking small-scale fishers directly to consumers. Joint research with the Pan American Network for Inspection, Quality Control and Technology of Fishery Products (REDPAN), and FAO. Client: FAO.

2019: Workshop for the main stakeholders of the Trinidad and Tobago fisheries sector: "Analysis of value chains and fishery products with added value in Trinidad and Tobago in the framework of the CC4FISH Project", sponsored by GEF and FAO. INFOPESCA was in charge of presenting the results of the value chain project and products with added value.

2018-2019: Drafting of a technical report on the interaction of fisheries in small scale and large scale based on case studies from Central America and Asia, with 22 case studies. Client:  FAO

2019: Co-organization of the IV International Forum on the Introduction of Fish in Child and School Feeding. Lima, Peru.

2019: Implementation of a project on promotion the integration of fishery products in the school feeding programmes of Peru, Honduras and Angola. PCT inter-regional project - PCT/INT/3605 (D). Client: FAO.

2018-2019: Techno economic evaluation of landing sites in Grenada. Client:  WB, GEF.

2018: Preparation of 36 fisheries and aquaculture country profiles. Client: FAO.

2018: Participation in the I International Conference of Women in Fisheries in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, speaking on associationism and leadership in particular in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2018: Partner and collaborator in the organization of the "Conference on Tenure Rights and User Rights in the fishing sector 2018. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030" in Yeosu, South Korea.

2018: Organization of a WTO Seminar for Caribbean countries on "Effective Fish Marketing and Sustainable Development for Small Island Developing States", in Barbados. Client: FAO.

2017-2019: Assistance in value added fish product development, with special emphasis on climate change impacts, in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Client: GEF.

2017-2018: Preparation of a study on the role of fish in food security and policy of food security in four countries in the Caribbean. Countries: Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Cuba. Client: FAO.

2017 – 2018: Buyers and products identification, quality requirements and elaboration of agendas of meetings in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica for exporters from Peru. Client: PROMPERU.

2017 – 2018: Study and evaluation of fish loss from the Amazon basin (Brazil, Colombia and Peru cases). Client: FAO

2017: Co-organization of the III International Forum on the Introduction of Fish in Child and School Feeding in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

2017: Co-organization of the II International Forum on the Introduction of Fish in Child and School Feeding in Colombia.