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US officials found Mexican shrimpers were improperly using TED devices. (Photo: FIS/ NOAA)
US bars Mexican shrimp
MEXICO
Friday, March 05, 2010, 02:20 (GMT + 9)
The US Department of State denied Mexico the certification to export wild shrimp to that country in considering that it does not count on protection measures for marine turtles during trawler fishing.
Thus informed the Federal Office of Environment Protection (PROFEPA) and the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (CONAPESCA) in a joint statement.
Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 of the US, “prohibits imports of certain categories of shrimp unless … the harvesting nation has adopted a program … in its commercial shrimp fishery comparable to the program in effect in the United States and … the fishing environment in the harvesting nation does not pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles.”
The refusal, announced 1 March, took place after learning the findings from experts of the US entity National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who, in observing the use of turtle excluder devices (TED), found breaches.
The measure will be in effect as from next 20 April, when shrimp species in most of the waters under federal jurisdiction are subject to a ban period.
The American authorities pointed out that the governments of both countries are working in a coordinated manner to protect the environment, and the fishing industry in particular.
Both parties decided to guarantee that the present fishing season culminates without affectation in its activity and to demonstrate the application of consistent actions in the protection of the turtle, to ensure certification at the beginning of next season, Notimex reports.
Mexico designed and started up a plan of action and a work programme of TED verification 2010-12, which contemplates specific measures to guarantee that shrimp fishing is undertaken without affecting marine turtles.
In February, a top official of the Federal Office of Environment Protection (PROFEPA) warned that Mexico was at risk of losing the certification granted the shrimp fisher fleet by the US for bad practises in wild shrimp capture.
According to the director of Inspection of Areas and Protected Marine Species of PROFEPA, Tomas Camarena Luhrs, the US Government was evaluating the possibility of applying a shrimp fisher embargo as it did since some years ago on tuna.
Related article:
- Bad practices endanger shrimp exports to the US
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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