Sociedad Cooperativa de Producción Pesquera 29 de Agosto, S.C. de R.L. wins the “2025 Award for Small-Scale Commercial Fishing”

The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA) has officially announced the winners of the 2025 Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture Award. In the category of “Small-Scale Commercial Fishing,” the winner was 29 de Agosto Cooperative, based in San Carlos, Sonora.

This award recognizes the outstanding work of individuals or organizations carrying out impactful actions in sustainable fishing and aquaculture.

The 29 de Agosto cooperative stands out for multiple concrete achievements:

·       Being the first coastal cooperative in Sonora to certify its onboard best management practices.

·       Maintaining a low environmental impact in its fishing operations by using only hand lines and hooks.

·       Actively participating in the internationally recognized Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) “Mexico Guaymas finfish-handline”.

·       Developing their own processing plant, which has allowed them to become independent from middlemen, ensure food safety and quality, add value to their products, and access new markets.

·       Sharing knowledge with other organizations through forums and exchanges with other cooperatives, such as those from Sonora and Veracruz.

·       Promoting internal governance, digital traceability, and innovation in processed fish products using quality techniques such as Ike Jime to kill and bleed their fish.

These actions have not only benefited their members but have also had a positive impact regionally and nationally, making the cooperative a model for other fishing organizations seeking sustainable and replicable approaches.

At SmartFish, we are very proud and pleased by this recognition for the cooperative, with whom we have collaborated since 2019 to implement our Value Rescue Model. Watch the video of the project here.

Congratulations to the members and employees of the cooperative for this well-deserved award!
We look forward to CONAPESCA’s upcoming announcement of the award ceremony.