
The Health, Agriculture, and Environment Committee of the Legislative Assembly issued a favorable opinion on a reform to the Ley de Creación de la Autoridad Salvadoreña de Economía Azul (ASEA), with the aim of facilitating the gradual implementation of the new institution that will replace the Centro de Desarrollo de la Pesca y la Acuicultura de El Salvador (CENDEPESCA).
The amendment focuses on Article 24 of the law and proposes extending the transition period until december 31 of this year. This seeks to guarantee the continuity of operational functions while ASEA consolidates its administrative, financial, and operational structure.
During this period, the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) will continue to provide support in key areas such as procurement, administration, payments, and budget execution, in order to ensure that services related to fisheries and aquaculture are not interrupted.

The reform also maintains the Transition Commission, comprised of representatives from the MAG and ASEA, which is responsible for compiling the inventory of assets, rights, obligations, and resources inherited from the CENDEPESCA, as well as preparing the handover and acceptance documents that will be validated by both institutions.
The executive director of ASEA, Edgar Palacios, explained to the legislators that, although the law establishes the transfer of functions to the new authority, some operational conditions remain pending. Among these, he mentioned the opening of institutional accounts and the hiring of the necessary personnel for its operation.

He also indicated that the extension of the deadline has been coordinated with the MAG, with the aim of ensuring an orderly and functional transition.
The reform will also allow the MAG to temporarily manage resources, contracts, and administrative processes related to CENDEPESCA, while the complete transfer to ASEA is finalized.
Once the transition period is over, the reconciliation of accounts, inventories, and files will take place, thus formalizing the closure of the transition process and the consolidation of ASEA as the new authority on the blue economy in El Salvador.
You can also read:
