A Step toward sustainable fishing: management plan for Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) approved

Santo Domingo — In an effort to ensure responsible and sustainable fishing practices for mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), a key species for food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Dominican Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CODOPESCA), and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) held a consultation workshop on April 29-30 at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel.

The event brought together artisanal fishers from Boca de Yuma, Barahona, Pedernales, Palmar de Ocoa, and San Pedro de Macorís alongside national authorities and regional fisheries management organizations. Participants reviewed and validated the Mahi-Mahi Fishery Management Plan during the workshop, reinforcing the country’s commitment to marine sustainability through a participatory process.

This initiative is part of FISH4ACP, a project funded by the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development under the leadership of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). In the Dominican Republic, the project focuses on improving the sustainability of the mahi-mahi value chain, which accounts for 43% of the country’s total fish production in the Caribbean Sea.

Mahi-mahi is vital to Dominican artisanal fishing. In 2022, total catches reached 900 tons, representing 43% of national fisheries production in the Caribbean Sea. This industry generates an estimated $6.6 million in annual revenue, with only 2.6% of production exported, primarily to the United States. Between 2016 and 2021, fresh whole mahi-mahi exports averaged $92,546 per year.

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is a key technical pillar of the process, which has provided strategic guidance in identifying threats, defining goals, and developing key actions for managing the fishery. CRFM’s extensive regional expertise ensures that the plan aligns with best practices for sustainable fisheries management and fosters cooperation among countries that share migratory fishery resources like mahi-mahi.

FAO Representative Rodrigo Castañeda emphasized during the event, “This management plan is a key tool for advancing toward a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient fishery—aligned with ecosystem-based principles and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Meanwhile, CODOPESCA’s Director of Fisheries Resources, Ángel Luis Franco, highlighted the plan’s importance in organizing mahi-mahi fisheries in the Dominican Republic, suggesting that it could serve as a replicable model for other Caribbean nations and the Central American Integration System.

Participants discussed objectives, management strategies, financing mechanisms, and steps for formally adopting the plan throughout the workshop. Additionally, they stressed the importance of involving fishing communities and strengthening governance and awareness to ensure effective implementation.