Washington, DC – The Mexican Shrimp Council (MxSC) reemphasizes its commitment to protect the vaquita and other marine mammals using sustainable fishing methods.
The Mexican Shrimp Council regrets that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has revoked comparability findings related to the Government of Mexico’s protections for fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California. NMFS revoked that status for seven fisheries, noting a lack of comparable effectiveness in the Mexican Government’s program to protect marine mammals, especially the vaquita.
The new NMFS restrictions were announced on March 9 and will take effect on April 3.
The MxSC looks forward to working with the U.S. and Mexican Governments to determine what specific and actionable steps need to be taken to assure regulators that protections for marine mammals are effectively enforced.
“As companies that fish following rules and regulations, we regret this development,” said Mexican Shrimp Council Chair David Castro, from seafood company Manta Bay. “We understand the U.S. Government’s need to consider new information and developments in its decision making. Mexican Shrimp Council members have and will continue to ensure its shrimp is caught sustainably.”
“It’s important that our U.S. customers understand that working with Mexican Shrimp Council members will ensure their shrimp was caught using fishing methods that do not interact with vaquitas. Our shrimp sent to the United States will have documentation to ensure it is traced to sustainable catch methods,” said Castro.
The Mexican Shrimp Council members are; Amende & Schultz, AquaStar, Associasion de Productores Acuicolas del Estado de Sonora A.C. (APAES), National Chamber of Fisheries and Aquaculture Industries (CANAINPESCA), Deep Sea Shrimp Importing Co., Delta Blue, Eastern Fish Company, Manta Bay, Meridian Products, Mexican Shrimp Paradise, Ocean Garden Products
