Panama joins FiTI!
PANAMA CITY, October 9, 2024. Panama, known as the country of the two oceans, has marked a milestone in the region by being the first in Central America to commit to the implementation of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Standard. This commitment reinforces the country’s leadership in the sustainable management of marine resources in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, promoting transparency and participation in decision-making.
The commitment was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) and the FiTI. This agreement establishes a strategic collaboration to strengthen the management of the country’s fisheries resources, increase transparency in fisheries governance, and combat illegal fishing. With this step, Panama lays the foundations to protect its marine ecosystems and respond to the needs of the fisheries sector and local communities.
Dr. Valeria Merino, Chair of the FiTI International Board, who attended the signing of the agreement, said: “The FiTI International Board is delighted that Panama is taking this first step towards the implementation of the FiTI Standard. The country is demonstrating not only its commitment to data collection, but also to the continuous improvement of the quantity and quality of information available about the fisheries sector. Ensuring public access to this information is key to complying with the principles of the FiTI Standard.”
For his part, Mr. Eduardo Carrasquilla, General Manager of ARAP, highlighted the importance of the agreement: “The memorandum signed with FiTI formalizes our commitment to strengthen transparency in the fisheries sector, guaranteeing the sustainability of our marine resources and reinforcing our fight against illegal fishing. The implementation of the FiTI Standard reflects our conviction that fisheries governance must be open and participatory to ensure responsible management of the country’s aquatic resources.”
The FiTI Standard is the only internationally recognized framework for the disclosure of information on fisheries management. Through this standard, FiTI supports coastal countries in improving the accessibility, credibility and usefulness of data, while encouraging the active participation of stakeholders in fisheries governance.
