October 2021.- The Ministry of the Environment, through the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (Sernanp), implemented a new fleet of patrol vessels for the San Fernando National Reserve (Ica) and the National Reserve System of Islands, Islets and Puntas Guaneras in order to reinforce conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the country’s marine protected areas.
The presentation and commissioning ceremony of these new vessels was led by the Minister of the Environment, Rubén Ramírez, who emphasized the important role that marine areas play in human development and the care of the planet. That is why, he stressed, it is necessary to reinforce its conservation, for which these vessels are being implemented with the latest technology, thus contributing to the surveillance work, but also to science through the collection of marine evidence and the study of the seabed, information that contributes to its conservation and the promotion of sustainable activities.
Pedro Gamboa, head of Sernanp, expressed his gratitude for the more than 50 years of support from the German government, through international cooperation, in the conservation of protected natural areas and the generation of benefits for the population.
The German Ambassador to Peru, Stefan Andreas Herzberg, highlighted the strong alliance between German cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and Sernanp in improving the management and conservation of protected natural areas, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources. “The PAN III project seeks to support Peru in the new challenge of managing marine areas with a focus on interventions that guarantee their sustainability and the protection of their biodiversity,” he added.
The ceremony was also attended by the general director of DICAPI, Cesar Ernesto Colunge, and the regional governor of Callao, Dante José Mandriotti.
Strengthening control and surveillance
The new vessels, with their equipment, speed, and capacity, will allow for joint operations and immediate response with the objective of reducing indiscriminate fishing of fish and mollusks, especially mackerel, octopus and black conch, in addition to guaranteeing the safety of visitors to both natural protected areas. Each vessel is equipped with radio, GPS, radar, navigation lights and pirate beacon, as well as safety equipment such as life jackets and life rings, fire extinguishers, a distress signal kit and survival kit.
With a value of US$377,000, the acquisition of these patrol vessels was made possible through a contribution from the State Development Bank of the Federal Republic of Germany KFW and channeled through the PAN III Project, and with the support of Profonanpe, Peruvian Environmental Fund, demonstrating the importance of inter-institutional collaboration to strengthen the effective management of natural protected areas.
The vessels have been manufactured to the technical specifications of the San Fernando National Reserve ranger staff based on their experience in the field and the needs identified for the effective management of this marine protected natural area.
Resource management plan in San Fernando
In addition, in order to reinforce the sustainable management of natural resources and show the great potential of protected natural areas as development poles in the country, the first plan for the extraction of hydrobiological resources in the San Fernando National Reserve was announced.
This plan will be a milestone in Peru, articulating different government sectors and will benefit 700 artisanal fishermen in the community of Marcona, with the opportunity to increase the value of the resources coming from a protected natural area with effective management, thus contributing to local economic development.
This initiative will be developed by Sernanp in conjunction with the PAN III Project and the Ministry of Production, within the framework of the Benthic Resources Fishing Management Regulations. In addition, it will work in coordination with the fishing community of Marcona, which groups 17 social organizations of artisanal fishermen, including their experience as the main actors in the management of marine invertebrate resources such as sea urchins and macroalgae.
Source: Sernanp
