Gulf of California, Mexico - thread herring
Last Updated: 21 February 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Thread herring (Ophistonema libertate, O. bulleri and O. medirastre)
MSC assessment status
The Conformity Assessment Body, Scientific Certification Systems Inc., has announced the membership of the assessment team for the Gulf of California, Mexico - thread herring fishery.
The Conformity Assessment Body Scientific Certification Systems Inc., has also announced that the Gulf of California, Mexico - thread herring fishery is now entering the next phase of the assessment process. The assessment team will be conducting assessment meetings to speak to representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery. Meetings will be carried out over the period 21-22 March 2012 in Guaymas, Mexico.
Any stakeholder with information on this fishery that should be considered in the assessment, or who wishes to meet with Scientific Certification Systems Inc. should contact Sabine Daume.
For further information go to the assessment downloads page.
Fishery location
Gulf of California, Mexico
Fishing method
Purse seine
Fishery management
Input controls: limited entry, gear restrictions, move on requirement for sensitive species, temporary spatial closures. Output controls: TAC
Commercial market
About 80% of the total production is used for reduction to fish meal, which is basically utilized for animal feeds.
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is expected to take 12 months and is scheduled for completion around 12/2012. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is 10/2012.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
85,111 MT of total allowable catch in 2009/10
