The measure ensures that all transhipment ships have adequate control, aligning their operations with international best practices, as explained by the Panama Water Resources Authority
The Republic of Panama took a significant step towards sustainability in the fishing industry. This is through the implementation of the on-board observer programme, which strengthens transparency and legality in trade in fishery products.
The implementation of on-board observers in Panama is focused on improving supervision and ensuring the traceability of products that are transhipped in their ports and international waters, confirmed the Panama Water Resources Authority (ARAP) in a statement.
The entity explained that the implementation of the observers on board allows real time monitoring of transhipment activities and to verify that fishery products meet the sustainability standards and legal measures required by international markets.
He emphasized that these regulations ensure that all transhipment vessels have adequate control, aligning their operations with international best practices. This not only strengthens Panama’s reputation as a key point in the global fishing supply chain, but also facilitates access to markets that require high levels of traceability and regulatory compliance, said ARAP.
He added that the presence of on-board observers is a crucial tool that allows Panama and its trading partners to ensure traceability of transhipped products. This is because it is a practice that ensures that fishery products passing through Panamanian ports meet the highest international standards, reducing the risk of illegal fishing and improving transparency in the supply chain.
These actions strengthen Panama’s position as a key player in the management of international fishery products, by ensuring that markets receive high-quality products with proven traceability. This is particularly important for companies such as Walmart and Starkist, which seek to assure their customers that the tuna products they offer are obtained responsibly and legally, he stressed.
As a model to follow in transhipment management, ARAP stressed that there is an alignment of Panama’s policies with the sustainability requirements of Walmart, Sams Club and Starkist, which underline the importance of on-board observer programmes, as an essential control measure for the traceability of fishery products.
Panama continues to position itself as a leader in the supervision of transhipment activities, setting a standard that other countries and industries can follow to ensure the integrity of their supply chains, he said.
The ARAP also said that, recently, Walmart and Sams Club announced that from 2027 all their tuna suppliers will have to monitor 100 % observers on board, either through electronic technology or with human observers.
He mentioned that this requirement also applies to transhipments, ensuring that all tuna products meet the strictest standards of sustainability and traceability. He also reported that Starkist, one of the world’s largest tuna suppliers, has adopted this policy to meet on-board monitoring requirements. This is a measure that reflects a commitment to transparency and social responsibility, aligning its operations with the regulations of countries like Panama, he said.
According to the ARAP, the regulatory framework for the implementation of observator on board is established in Law 204 of 2021 and Decree 13 November 2023, which regulates the Fisheries Act, and amended by Executive Decree No. 14 November 20, 2023 of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), as recorded in the Official Gazette No. 29913-B.
Executive Decree No. 14 November 2023 also establishes in its article 1 medium-scale and large-scale wearable fisheries (article 17 of Executive Decree 13 of 1 November 2023 as amended). Thus, in medium-scale fishing are: surface longline fisheries for golden species (Coryphaena hippurus) and tuna; in bottom longline fisheries for pargos species (Lutjanus spp), congrio (Brotula clarkae), but of the family Serranidae and corvinas (Cynoscion spp); and in the encirclement fisheries for the species cujinúa (Caranx caballus).
While for large-scale fishing, they are: surface longline fisheries for golden species (Coryphaena hippurus), bojalá (Serio/a rivoliana) and tuna; bottom longline fisheries for pargos species (Lutjanus spp), congrio (Brotula clarkae) and par/cherna only of the Serranidae family; seed fisheries for the anchovy species (Cetengraulis mysticetus), herring (Opisthonema sp.(Chloroscombrus arqueta), and fishery for shrimp species (Penaeidae, Pandalidae and Solenoceridae), in accordance with Decree No. l0 of 28 February 1985 regulating shrimp fishing in territorial waters of the Republic.
This article has been translated after first appearing in La Estrella