Clarmondial, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Walton Family Foundation, Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP), and Perupez are pleased to announce the first transaction under the Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF), backed by philanthropic capital from the Walton Family Foundation to mobilize commercial financing for sustainable fisheries management.
The transaction enables Perupez, a fishing operator and seafood processor based in the Piura region in northern Peru, to access additional credit from BCP to support its sustainability transition and working capital. The loan is partially guaranteed under the LGF, a blended finance mechanism designed to facilitate credit for fisheries advancing toward the MSC Fisheries Standard.
By sharing risk with the lender, the LGF enabled BCP to responsibly expand Perupez’s credit facilities. The financing will support ongoing sustainability investments and the completion of the MSC assessment process for the North Peru eel trap fishery.
Many fisheries committed to sustainability face constraints in accessing working capital needed to implement improvements. Through partial loan guarantees, the LGF addresses this barrier by enabling financial institutions to extend credit that might otherwise be limited by collateral requirements or internal lending thresholds.
Renu Mittal, Program Officer at the Walton Family Foundation said: “Improving fishery management often requires investments in science, monitoring, and stronger systems – and that takes capital. The Loan Guarantee Facility demonstrates how philanthropic support can work alongside commercial lenders to accelerate progress toward management aligned with the MSC standard. As this first transaction shows, a multi-capital approach can help strengthen ocean health while reinforcing the long-term resilience of fisheries and the communities that depend on them.”
Natasha Barantseva, Clarmondial’s Partner for Latin America said: “The transaction with Perupez brings Clarmondial’s blended finance expertise from the agriculture to the blue economy and we look forward to expanding the LGF’s size and mandate in its next phase.”
Banco de Crédito del Perú, Peru’s largest financial institution, extended the loan under its existing banking relationship with Perupez. Gerardo Moreno, Head of Corporate Banking & Finance at BCP, commented: “As Peru’s leading bank, we are committed to financing businesses that integrate sustainability into their core operations. Partnering with the LGF allowed us to expand support to Perupez within our existing risk framework demonstrating how commercial banks can contribute to the sustainability transition of the fisheries sector.”
The transaction provides a replicable example of how risk-sharing mechanisms can mobilize additional commercial capital for sustainability-driven enterprises in the fisheries sector in Peru and other markets.
Perupez harvests, processes, and exports conger eel (Ophichthus remiger) and works closely with artisanal fishers in northern Peru to source other species. The company has played a leading role for over two decades in strengthening management practices in the eel fishery.
Jessica Chalmers, Ocean Stewardship Fund Director at the Marine Stewardship Council, said: “The journey towards sustainable fishing requires collaboration across the private, non-profit, and government sectors. The MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund was created to help accelerate that progress. As a co-founder and partner of the LGF, we see this milestone as an important step forward that will help continue driving the transition towards more sustainable fisheries.”
In 2025, the North Peru eel trap fishery entered full MSC assessment and is targeting certification in 2026. The additional financing will support stock assessments, fishery monitoring, and strengthened management systems, while enabling operational continuity and access to export markets.
Dario Alvites Diestra, Founder and CEO of Perupez, said: “Achieving MSC certification is a strategic priority for Perupez. This financing allows us to continue investing in science-based management and responsible operations, strengthening both the long-term health of the eel resource and access to high-value international markets.”