BajaNews
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MSC re-certification for Baja California red rock lobster fishery
http://www.fishnewseu.com/latest-news/world/6120-msc-re-cert...
01 July 2011
THE Baja California red rock lobster (Panulirus interruptus) fishery off the coast of Baja California, Mexico has been re-certified following
independent assessment to the MSC standard for sustainable, well-managed fisheries.
This fishery was certified as sustainable from 2004 to 2009, and products from the fishery are now again eligible to bear the blue MSC ecolabel.
As part of the re-certification the geographic area covered by the certificate was expanded. The Unit of Certification originally extended from Cedros
Island in Baja California through Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur, and now also includes Isla Guadalupe approximately 250 km off the west coast
of Baja California.
The Baja California red rock lobster fishery was the first Latin American and first community-based, developing world artisanal fishery certified to
the MSC standard. More than 500 artisanal fishermen from 10 cooperatives participate in the fishery. These 10 cooperatives are part of the Federación
Regional de Sociedades Cooperativas de la Industria Pesquera Baja California (FEDECOOP) which is serving as the client for this fishery.
The 10 cooperatives operating in the central region of the Baja California peninsula catch approximately 80 percent of the total catch of this species
nationally. Together they operate 232 vessels and use approximately 15,635 traps each season to harvest the lobster. The total catch for the last five
seasons (2005-2010) for the central fishing region is approximately 1,400 tonnes.
The fishermen sell most of the catch live, but can also sell whole cooked frozen lobster, whole raw frozen lobster, or frozen lobster tails. About 90
percent of the product is exported mostly to Asia. The United States and France constitute a small proportion of the exports. The remaining 10 percent
is sold domestically mainly to restaurants.
“The re-certification of the fishery involved researchers, managers and users of the fishery, among others, in a scheme of co-management,” said Edgar
Aguilar, president of FEDECOOP. “Maintaining the MSC standard not only permits access to preferential markets, but confirms the lobster population
will be maintained at levels that permit sustainable development in the fishing communities of Baja California.”
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) U.S. provided technical and financial support to the fishery through the initial assessment process from 2003-2004. Meredith
Lopuch, director of the Major Buyer Initiative (Fisheries), for WWF-US says: "We are pleased to see the re-certification of the Baja California red
rock lobster fishery as it will lead to further improvements in the sustainable management of the fishery. By continuing with certification, the
fishery is showing a strong commitment to sustainable fishing practices, and continues to be a good example to other community-based artisanal
fisheries to adopt sustainable practices.”
Since 2000 Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI) A.C., a Mexican marine conservation organization, promoted and accompanied FEDECOOP in obtaining its
original MSC certification. “The great lesson learned from this fishery is that by granting communities with territorial users’ rights—as the Baja
California red rock lobster fishery has—they can become an exemplary model of fishers’ stewardship towards the ocean,” said Dr. Andrea Saenz-Arroyo,
COBI’s science and Baja California program director. “For us it is an honour to keep working together with this group of outstanding cooperatives in
developing models of ocean stewardship that can be applied elsewhere in the world.”
“The Baja California red rock lobster fishery is a wonderful example of a certified sustainable artisanal fishery,” said Kerry Coughlin, regional
director for MSC Americas. “Many generations of families have maintained their livelihoods from this fishery, and MSC is pleased that certification
confirms they will be able to pass this heritage, and sustainable fishing techniques, on to future generations.”
Scientific Certification Systems was the certifier for this assessment and the original certification. During the assessment, the three principles of
the MSC standard were evaluated in detail: the status of the fish stock, the impact of the fishery on the marine ecosystem and the management system
overseeing the fishery. More information about the Baja California red rock lobster fishery and the complete Public Certification Report detailing the
fishery’s passing scores against the MSC standard can be found on MSC’s web site at http://www.msc.org/track-a-fishery/certified .
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Russ
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This is good news and I hope there is or will be a certification for other fisheries like abalone, seaweeds, sea cucumbers and other inshore fisheries
where the local co-ops have some control over harvests and poachers. It's a good start and they all should be very proud of their success showing the
world that a reasonable effort can provide economic benefits that make for a better environment for all creatures.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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bajamigo
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Everything you wanted to know about the spiny lobster business
Spiny lobster from Baja California recertified
MEXICO
Monday, July 11, 2011, 06:50 (GMT + 9)
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) recertified the spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) from the central part of the Peninsula of Baja California,
which will authorise its trade in the international market at a better price.
Moreover, this distinction will also enable fishermen in the region to obtain more direct benefits.
Currently, there are only two certified lobster fisheries in the world: in Mexico and in Australia.
"This recertification was issued based on the independent evaluation, under the standard for sustainability and well-managed fishery, which the MSC
sets for the environment and the species care," the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa) reported.
This resource has already been awarded the blue MSC eco-label between 2004 and 2010.
The geographical area spans Cedros Island, in Baja California; Punta Abreojos, in Southern Baja California; and Guadalupe Island, located
approximately 250 kilometres west off the coast of Baja California.
In the last 10 years, the average annual catch of spiny lobster has been 1,456 tonnes with a value of USD 65 million.
More than 500 artisanal fishermen participate in the spiny lobster fishery of Baja California. They are grouped into 10 fishing cooperatives that are
part of the Regional Federation of Cooperative Societies of Fisheries of Baja California (Fedecoop).
To grant this sign, the National Fisheries Institute (Inapesca) presented items and technical evidence on the resource sustainability, such as:
A spiny lobster annual research and monitoring programme, prepared by the Regional Center for Fisheries Research (CRIP) of the Institute, with support
from the sector;
Technical Paper on the resource status, issued by CRIP La Paz, which provides the evidence on the healthy condition of the spiny lobster;
The National Fisheries Chart, developed by the Institute, which sets out guidelines and strategies for marine management;
The NOM-006-PESC-1993, which regulates the use of all lobster species. It is issued and updated based on technical studies by Inapesca;
A well-implemented management system by the fishing authority (National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries), working in coordination and sharing
responsibility with the sector.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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uh huh....spiny lobsters R us!
bet you didnt know that the fishermen are alloted a set number of traps which differs in different areas. The sealions here have learned how to pop
open a trap to get at the stinky yummy bait by crushing the trap between their powerful flippers. This is really crummy for the fisherman because it
directly decreases their income....less useable traps....less lobster....less $$$. Needless to say the pescadores are here really hate sea lions.
our season is from september to the end of february here....by the way, it is pronounced LANG..GO...STA not langewsta...over and out.
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capt. mike
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are seal lions edible??
is there a season on em?
do eskimos eat them?
i think a smoker would do it but are they greasy??
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
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ElCap
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Location: Montara CA, or San Ignacio BCS
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Shari - at least you don't have sea otters down there eating all your abulon! They are cuter than sea lions but voracious eaters - and they like to
eat all the same things us people like!
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