The mahi-mahi is a highly migratory fish; therefore, although national efforts to responsibly manage this resource are essential

Pacific Mahi-Mahi: Sustainability and Hope

PERU
Sunday, October 05, 2025, 00:00 (GMT + 9)

The dolphin fish (dorado, perico - Coryphaena hippurus), known internationally as mahi-mahi, is one of the most important marine treasures of the Eastern Pacific. Its fishery sustains the economy of thousands of families in coastal towns in countries like Ecuador and Peru, which today have become leaders in a model that seeks to balance fishing activity with the conservation of captured resources.

Photol: FISHERY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - PERICO

In the last decade, Peru has taken firm steps toward sustainability. It is the only country in the region to apply a catch quota system, ensuring that extractions do not exceed the limits recommended by science. Although fishing levels fluctuate due to environmental factors such as El Niño—reaching historical records one year and minimum levels the next—this preventive management ensures the species remains healthy. For the upcoming 2025–2026 season, a quota of 62 thousand tons has already been fixed, organized by periods and zones, which shows a long-term planning vision.

Cooperación Binacional e Impacto Internacional

But sustainability is not woven in solitude. Since 2012, Peru and Ecuador have sailed together in a sea of scientific cooperation that today inspires the region. Together, they have advanced in genomic studies that reveal the existence of different dolphin fish populations in the Pacific, in tagging projects that show their migratory routes, and in binational stock assessments that are updated yearly. All of this was possible thanks to the active participation of the region’s fishermen and processors, organized in the Regional Committee of Mahi Producers (COREMAHI), who contribute data, samples, and experience at sea.

The fruits of this labor are reflected in international achievements. In September 2025, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) created a specific Working Group on dolphin fish/mahi, a milestone that recognizes the importance of the resource and the voice of artisanal fishermen. For the first time, a Peruvian sector representative participated in the negotiation table, further legitimizing the agreements. This space will allow for expanded cooperation with other producing countries and the discussion of conservation measures to mitigate the fishery's impacts on protected species.

Hacia un Futuro Sostenible

International markets, especially the United States, increasingly demand products that come from sustainable fisheries. Peru is advancing on that path. It complies with the fundamental principle of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): maintaining a stable dolphin fish population. Furthermore, it has developed regulations to release protected species and reduce impacts on the ecosystem. There is still a need to consolidate comprehensive monitoring and finalize the formalization of all vessels, but the structure is erected and firm, like a lighthouse guiding the way.

As Kofi Annan rightly said: "Our survival and well-being depend on achieving wiser management of the natural resources that sustain life." Today, the effort surrounding the dolphin fish demonstrates that this vision is not only possible but is already underway in the waters of the Pacific. The message is clear: the journey towards dolphin fish sustainability is not a promise but a reality that is built every day.

Thanks to the joint effort of scientific institutions, fishermen, processors, and authorities, Peru and its neighbors are setting a precedent that can inspire other fisheries in the world. As Ernest Hemingway wrote in The Old Man and the Sea: "The sea is the same as it has always been, and yet every time it is new."

Caring for the dolphin fish is recognizing that constant renewal and betting on a future where the sea continues to be a source of life and hope.

Author/Source: Alfonso Miranda Eyzaguirre/Expreso

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