Mexican shrimp fleet. (Photo: Sagarpa)
MEXICOMonday, January 26, 2015, 02:30 (GMT + 9)
The State Department of the United States notified the Mexican Government that it would recommend the US Congress to grant the certification to the offshore shrimp fishery in Mexico.
This recommendation is based on the acknowledgement that the Mexican Fleet performs sustainable fisheries and protects sea turtles, in compliance with international standards.
The news was released by the head of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca), Mario Aguilar Sanchez, who reported that a US delegation visited the country to monitor the proper use of the turtle excluder device (TED) in shrimp vessels.
The mission was composed by Stephen Wilger and Luis Estevez Salmeron, from the Office of Marine Conservation; and Jack Forrester and Warren Brown, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
According to Aguilar Sanchez, upon reviewing 82 vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Wilger informed that the recommendation his work team would make to the US Congress would be positive, so that the Mexican Fleet would be granted the certification and therefore export its products to the US market.
He also highlighted the effectiveness of the Mexican policies regarding the selectivity of fishing gear to ensure "sustainable fisheries and keep improving for better productivity and greater competitiveness in the market."
Mexican shrimp exports to the US are subject to conditions set out in the latter’s legislation providing for the application of trade embargoes on countries that catch shrimp with technology that has a negative impact on sea turtles.
Thus, US authorities check every year the programs to protect sea turtles during trawling operations with shrimp boats of nations sending shrimp to its market.
Last November, US officials audited shrimp vessels in the ports of Tampico and Campeche, and a few days ago did so in Guaymas and Mazatlan.