San Diego, CA – June 28, 2004 – No group is more concerned with the implementation and oversight of sustainable fishing practices than the Mexican seafood industry, whose livelihood depends on the viability of a long-term business. Mexico’s governing bodies exercise professional management systems to control and regulate seafood resources, taking into consideration both the ecological balance of oceans and the long-term feasibility of individual marine species. Harvesting their seas and aquaculture facilities in a sustainable manner allows Mexican Shrimp producers to catch or raise superior quality products year after year.
SHRIMP FISHING
Minimizing Bycatch
Mexican fishermen follow strict national and international regulations to minimize bycatch and to protect endangered species. The majority of bycatch (unwanted or unintentional catch) from Mexico’s waters is consumed by the ship’s crew. The remainder re-enters the food chain when it is pushed overboard and consumed by shore birds, marine mammals and other fish.
Employing Turtle-Compatible Systems
The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) has provided fishermen with a safe and effective mechanism for protecting endangered species such as sea turtles. A TED is a metal grid sewn into the shrimp trawl nets that provides an "escape hatch" for turtles. If a turtle is swept up in a net, the TED enables the turtle to swim out of the net, while the shrimp remain in the net. Because of extensive and widespread efforts to protect sea turtles, all shrimp entering the United States must have documentation demonstrating that the shrimp is caught using turtle-safe methods.
Saefguarding the Kemps Ridley
Since 1978, the governments of the United States and Mexico, aided by private donations from seafood businesses including members of the Mexican Shrimp Council, have worked to preserve and protect the nesting areas of an endangered species of turtle called the Kemps ridley. Loss of habitat, combined with natural predation and the harvesting of turtle eggs for food, has placed the Kemps ridley turtle on the Endangered Species List. Now, turtle camps at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, provide protection for Kemps ridley eggs until they hatch. From specially protected nests, several hundred thousand baby turtles survive and are released each year. As a result, the number of hatchlings has increased substantially, and the Kemps ridley turtle population is rapidly growing.
SHRIMP FARMING
Protecting Coastal Habitats
Mexican growing and production systems for farm-raised shrimp, a rapidly-increasing source of shrimp today, are environmentally conscious, emphasizing the revitalization of coastal habitats. As a prime example, the shrimp farming industry is making a concerted effort to protect and replace mangroves.
Mangroves are the coastal tropical forests in shallow waters that provide shelter for many species of fish. Importantly, mangroves protect coastlines during severe storms, and serve as natural water purification areas. While displacing mangroves with shrimp farms occurred at the advent of farming, it is now widely acknowledged that mangroves are too important to the ecosystem to destroy. Government regulation and industry efforts in some areas within Mexico have resulted in more mangroves than were present originally. Mexico in particular has very stringent laws protecting mangroves. Actually, the majority of Mexican shrimp farms are located in areas where there are no mangroves.
Providing Drug-Free Environments
Recent news coverage about the presence of high mercury levels, dioxins and PCBs in certain varieties of fish has prompted seafood enthusiasts to become more interested in the origins and makeup of the products they consume. Shrimp lovers will be pleased to know that from well before this spike in media scrutiny, the Mexican government and the shrimp industry together decided to ban the use of any unauthorized inputs in its farm-raised shrimp. These include antibiotics that may be harmful to humans or chemicals such as polyphosphates that make shrimp artificially heavier.
To access accurate information on the status of fishery resources, you may explore the variety of peer-reviewed publications offered by the National Marine Fisheries Service, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and other recognized fishery institutions such as Ocean Trust (www.oceantrust.org).
GLOBAL COMMITMENT
The Mexican Shrimp Council is dedicated to working on a global basis to ensure compliance with the unique trade and environmental regulations employed by governments around the world. It is the Council’s belief that responsible fishing practices are in the best interests of corporations, the environment and the consumer.
ABOUT THE CONSEJO MEXICANO DEL CAMARÓN
Founded in late 2003, the Consejo Mexicano del Camarón (Mexican Shrimp Council) is a group of producers, processors, suppliers and marketers who specialize in Mexican Shrimp. The mission of the Consejo is to educate the foodservice industry and consumer audiences about the quality aspects and price-value relationship of Mexican Shrimp.
###
Contact:
Melissa Dennis, OutSmart
858-268-4094
melissa.dennis@sbcglobal.net
Chef2Chef News Desk