Mahi-mahi, also known as dolphinfish, dorado, or perico, is an essential resource for artisanal fisheries in Ecuador. Thousands of families rely on this species for their food and livelihoods. Currently, 4.666 small boats and 223 larger tow boats are working in the artisanal mahi-mahi fishery.
However, mahi-mahi stocks are under pressure from overfishing and ecosystem degradation. One way to reverse this harmful trend is to support fishers who adopt sustainable practices, for example, by respecting closed seasons and using environmentally friendly gear, such as fishing poles and lines. These methods are selective, meaning that they only catch the target species and do not harm other marine biodiversity.
The goal of preserving the environment must embrace the equal priorities of generating economic and social benefits for fishing communities. An approach to do so is through traceability, or the ability to track a product from the point of sale back to its origin. This can lead to obtaining MSC or Fair-Trade certifications on labels for sustainably caught seafood, enabling responsible fishers to command better market prices and consumers to make informed choices.
To demonstrate how traceability can help responsible fishers improve their livelihoods, the Coastal Fisheries Initiative in Latin America (CFI-LA) joined forces with the 20 de Septiembre Cooperative, which is made up of 65 artisanal mahi-mahi fishers.
Together, they piloted a traceability project in the San Mateo Cove settlement, where 90% of the community is dedicated to artisanal fishing and related activities.
Traceability is based on reliable data about the size, quantity, and location of the fish being caught, and this was lacking at the San Mateo landing site in the past.
To address this challenge, the pilot project worked with the community to install cameras and electronic logbooks on the fishing boats to create a virtual monitoring system for mahi-mahi.
Compared to analog traceability systems, this new technology gave fishers real-time information on their operations and landings. It also allows them to have an updated digital database, which is critical not only to document the health of the target species but also to understand the impact on secondary and protected species.
The pilot project involved local youth, as many of the fisherfolk's sons and daughters joined in to support their parents in installing the innovative virtual monitoring technology on their artisanal boats. Furthermore, the project contributed to gender equality by providing both men and women with technical training in seafood processing, enabling them to enhance the value of their mahi-mahi catch.
"The pilot motivated men and women to work together and unite for a common cause: responsible artisanal fishing with fair prices",
said Fernando Rey, a specialist from the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Ecuador, which implemented the pilot project in San Mateo.
Cinthia Conforme is the daughter of a San Mateo fisherman and is active in training and empowering the women and youth of her community.
"Before, the fishermen and fisherwomen of my community could not get decent prices for their catch”,
Cinthia said.
The success of the mahi-mahi traceability pilot project belongs to the San Mateo community. As a pioneer in the region, it proved the viability of a virtual monitoring system with new technologies on artisanal vessels. It also made visible the important role of women and youth in developing a modern and responsible small-scale fishery in Ecuador.
About the project
The CFI-LA is an initiative that aims to promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources in the coastal waters of Ecuador and Peru, both rich in biodiversity, for the benefit of people and the environment. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with Conservation International (CI) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in partnership with national governments and local communities. CFI-LA is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), along with the other projects that make up the Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI).
For more information, please contact the communications specialist, Stefania Fumo (Stefania.fumo@fao.org), and visit the project page on iwlearn.net or the project website.
© 2026 IW:LEARN
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