Gulf of California, Mexico thread herring fishery
Gulf of California, Mexico thread herring fishery enters MSC full assessment process
22 December 2011
Camara Nacional de la Industria Pesquera, Delagación Sonora has entered its Gulf of California, Mexico thread herring purse seine fishery into the independent, third-party assessment under the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification program. The assessment will evaluate the fishery against the Marine Stewardship Council principles and criteria for sustainable fishing and, if successful, products sold through Camara Nacional de la Industria Pesquera, Delagación Sonora will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel recognising products from well-managed and sustainable sources.
About the Camara Nacional de la Industria pesquera, Delagación Sonora fishery
The fishery under assessment is the Gulf of California, Mexico thread herring (Ophistonema spp.) using purse seine nets in the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) area 77, managed by the Instituto Nacional de Pesca (INAPESCA). Thread herring are caught as a secondary species group in the MSC certified sardine fishery in the Gulf of California. Other than the Mexican sardine fishery, the thread herring fishery has limited interaction with the numerous other fisheries in the same area that catch other species.
The fishery complies with Sections 27.4 of the MSC Certification Requirements and does not engage in destructive fishing practices or violate any international agreements, nor is it controversial in the international community, and is, as part of the Mexican Pacific sardine fishery, in scope of a full assessment.
Companies involved in this process have 36 vessels in operation. In 2009/2010, the total allowable catch quota of thread herring for this fishery unit was 85,116 tonnes. About 80% of the total production is used for reduction to fish meal, which is usually utilised for animal feeds, the other 20% are canned. Of a total catch of 360,000 tonnes of pelagic fish for the fisheries, the catch of pacific sardine for the same period was 256,409 tones.
The third-party, independent certifier that will conduct the assessment will be Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. The team leader is Dr. Sabine Daume, who may be reached directly at (510) 452-6388 and SDaume@scscertified.com
