Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LIMA4925
2005-11-18 22:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lima
Cable title:  

PERU: DEMARCHE ON NEW REQUIREMENTS SWORDFISH AND

Tags:  ETRD EFIS SENV PE IATTC 
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UNCLAS LIMA 004925 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NOAA FOR KBLANKENBEKER AND D STEPHAN
OES FOR D WARNER-KRAMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EFIS SENV PE IATTC
SUBJECT: PERU: DEMARCHE ON NEW REQUIREMENTS SWORDFISH AND
TUNA IMPORTS

REF: A. STATE 202817


B. LIMA 4910

UNCLAS LIMA 004925

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NOAA FOR KBLANKENBEKER AND D STEPHAN
OES FOR D WARNER-KRAMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EFIS SENV PE IATTC
SUBJECT: PERU: DEMARCHE ON NEW REQUIREMENTS SWORDFISH AND
TUNA IMPORTS

REF: A. STATE 202817


B. LIMA 4910


1. (U) SUMMARY: Econoff delivered Reftel demarche in English
and Spanish to the GOP Foreign Ministry and Fisheries section
of the Production Ministry on November 5, and met with the
GOP fisheries team on November 16. Industry and government
contacts contend that Peruvian vessels comply with IATTC
documentation requirements for tuna exports. Peruvian
fishboats catch little tuna but Peruvian processors export
frozen tuna bought from other nationals to the U.S. Peru is
improving its inspection, enforcement and reporting
capability. Fisheries Vice Ministry officials pledged to
work diligently to ensure U.S. import requirements are met.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Econoff delivered Reftel demarche to Vice Minister of
Fisheries (Ministry of Production) Alfonso Miranda and Maria
Elvira Velasquez, Counselor for Maritime Jurisdiction in the
Ministry of Foreign Relations on Novemeber 5. Velasquez
requested that she meet with Econoff after discussing the
Tuna and Swordfish demarche with appropriate government
officials. On November 17, Econoff met with Velasquez, as
well as Jorge Vertiz, Director of Fisheries Production and
Extraction in the Vice Ministry of Fisheries (Ministry of
Production); Admiral Raul Ponce, Director of Enforcement in
the Vice Ministry of Fisheries; and Liliana Gomez, Counselor
for Maritime and Antarctic Issues in the Foreign Ministry.
Econoff also met with Richard Innuritegui Director of
National Fisheries Association on November 14; the
Association's members include all processors and fishboat
companies who fish commercially (legally),but not artisanal
(small-scale subsistence) fishermen. Econoff also showed
meeting attendees documents from Reftel website.


3. (U) Ponce and Vertiz asserted that Peruvian-flagged
fishing boats are now complying with tuna documentation
requirements of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
(IATTC). Ponce said that there was one fishing vessel that
they knew of catching tuna; Innuritegui echoed this
assessment for his association. Peruvian fish processors do
freeze significant amounts of tuna caught by foreign-flagged
vessels who deliver their catch in Peruvian waters; the
frozen tuna is exported, much of it to the U.S. Vertiz and
Ponce both said that they were fairly certain that fish
processors were complying with re-export certificate
requirements, but they pledged to make certain in light of
the demarche. Innurritegui likewise said that he would get
distribute the talking points and website information to the
fish processors in his association.


4. (SBU) Enforcement chief Ponce related what Vice Minister
of Fisheries told DCM and Econoff on October 19, that the
Production Ministry has come a long way in improving
environmental aspects of the fisheries industry. Ponce said
that the GOP has realized that illegal, unregulated and
unreported (IUU) catch of all commercial species was costing
Peru significant revenue, in addition to the deleterious
conservation consequences. The GOP now has an extensive
system in place to inspect and regulate its fisheries.
Ministry of Prduction officials verify the species and
weights of catches delivered to Peruvian fish processors.
After acknolweding a history of less than ideal oversight of
the fishing industry, Ponce concluded that the Fisheries Vice
Ministry is still catching up but is now aggressively
exerting control.
STRUBLE