10-year plan for stronger, more equitable and environmentally friendly mahi-mahi fishery

7 March 2023, Santo Domingo – Key stakeholders in Dominican fisheries today endorsed a ten-year upgrading strategy for the mahi-mahi sector, marking the launch of an ambitious agenda to strengthen this important artisanal fishery, making sure that benefits are shared equitably and growth does not increase the burden on the environment.  

“This agreement gives an important boost to our efforts to modernize the fisheries sector,” said Carlos Then, Director of the Dominican Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CODOPESCA) at a ceremony in Santo Domingo on occasion of the endorsement of the mahi-mahi upgrading strategy. “A better mahi-mahi sector is vital for the livehoods of fisher folk and will help us to preserve this resource for future generations.” 

The endorsement means that work can now begin to make the mahi-mahi value chain more productive and sustainable in carrying out an ambitious set of activities geared towards modernizing the capture, processing and marketing of mahi-mahi products over the next ten years.  

“This will have a significant impact on the lives of some 12 500 people in fishing communities in the south-east and south-west of our country, where mahi-mahi is one of the principal catches,” said Olaya Dotel, Vice-Minister of Multilateral Cooperation. 

According to a value chain analysis of last year mahi-mahi fishing engages one in six fishers in the Dominican Republic, 2 500 in total. The analysis, conducted by the global value chain development program FISH4ACP in collaboration with CODOPESCA, ISA University and value chain stakeholders, estimated yearly mahi-mahi production at 320 tonnes worth USD 7.5 million. 

FISH4ACP, an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) implemented by FAO with funding from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), also played a lead role in the sector-wide dialogue that resulted in the upgrading strategy endorsed today. 

“The fishing sector generates employment and has a significant impact on the food security of coastal and rural populations, as indicated by a recent diagnosis supported by the EU within the framework of our “Farm to Fork” strategy,” said Maria González Mata, head of cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in the Dominican Republic.

She also pointed out the importance of the FISH4ACP project for a sustainable and responsible planning of the exploitation of mahi-mahi and the increase in its production and consumption, avoiding overexploitation and illegal fishing. 

“We welcome this ambitious agenda that can bring prosperity to artisanal fishing communities and preserve important fish resources for future generations,” said Katrin Werdermann, Deputy Head of Mission at the German embassy to the Dominican Republic.  

Strengthening the governance of the mahi-mahi sector is a main priority of the strategy. It is considered a cornerstone for a responsibly managed and sustainable value chain. Other priorities include improvements to fishery production and marketing to ensure that consumers can count on buying safe and quality fishery products.   

Work will also focus on strengthening fisher’s associations and cooperatives to improve working conditions, supporting entrepreneurship for independent and associated producers and training across the value chain, including on good handling practices for mahi-mahi and by-products. 

“Artisanal fisheries are vital for fishing communities and for food security in the Dominican Republic,” said Rodrigo Castañeda, FAO Representative in the Dominican Republic. “FAO is happy that FISH4ACP can contribute to a blue transformation of fisheries in this country, while advancing our key strategy objective of better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”