FishSource

Mexico Yucatan Peninsula blue crab - dipnet/pot/trap (FIP)

Last Updated: 2023-06-16

Progress Rating: B

Evaluation Start Date: 2016-09-20

Type: Basic

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Centro Desarrollo y Pesca Sustentable (CeDePesca), Pontchartrain Blue Crab, Inc. (PBCI), Pescados y Mariscos del Caribe S.A (PESMAR) (PMCS), Mayaland Seafood LLD (MSL)

Stock Profile Link
Blue crab - Mexico Gulf of Mexico

Comments:

The last stage 4 result was reported within the past 12 months, the FIP remains B rated.

1. FIP Development	Sep 19	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 September 2019 — Updated to MSC v 2.0. Rationale 1 June 2014 — Preliminary snapshot of the fishery's current standing against the criteria of the Seafood Watch program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium 1 July 2013 — Marine Stewardship Council pre-assessment of the fishery (available upon request)
2. FIP Launch	Apr 19	Confirmation of project participants 12 April 2019 — Current participants 8 April 2016 — Participants list updated 1 April 2013 — Pontchartrain and its Yucatan suppliers made a commitment
2. FIP Launch	Apr 24	Workplan made public 4 April 2024 — Updated 2024 workplan 31 March 2022 — 2022 updated workplan 1 April 2019 — 2019 workplan 30 September 2016 — Workplan update 1 October 2013 — Activities and next steps available
3. FIP Implementation	Nov 23	FIP activities undertaken 24 November 2023 — The FIP participated in the Mazaraya Festival developed for fishermen from Campeche, presenting information about the blue crab and blue crab fishing. 1 November 2023 — The FIP participated in an octopus management plan meeting as blue crab is a bait used in the octopus fishery. 20 September 2023 — Several workshops were conducted between August and September 2023 to present and discuss the data analysis of the biological monitoring program. During the workshops, fishermen agreed to adhere to the minimum legal size requirements and release ovigerous females, as well as handle bycatch responsibly. 2 March 2023 — A workshop was held for FIP collaborators in March 2023; monitoring program data shows that the FIP is over 96% compliant with the minimum legal size for blue crabs, has less than a 2% discard rate for dead catch, and continues to increase swimming crab catch. 1 December 2022 — The 2022 Carta National Pesquera has been published; management strategies including minimum size and the release of ovigerous females are included in the CNP 1 September 2022 — Best practices workshop held in August and September with 120 fishers in attendance. 1 March 2022 — Interviews conducted with individual blue crab fishermen from several localities to help inform the updated workplan 1 December 2021 — Habitat and ecosystem information has been made available 1 October 2021 — Interviews have been conducted within the FIP in place of meetings since the inception of covid to gather information about ongoing operations and compliance/ management. 1 June 2021 — Identification key for crab species of the Peninsula of Yucatan has been developed 29 March 2021 — Growth, mortality and relative yield report produced 19 March 2021 — FIP meeting held with Inapesca 1 March 2020 — Progress continues with the implementation of the monitoring program, using the Catch Record Format to obtain basic biological information on the blue crab 1 March 2020 — Common bycatch species are identified and recorded by fishermen 1 March 2020 — The database with results from the the Biological Monitoring Program continues to be updated and is currently being prepared to carry out corresponding analyses. 1 March 2020 — A preliminary map was created based off of surveys carried out on fishermen that describe the fishing areas 1 March 2020 — Increased in monitoring and data collection to increase information base for management purposes 1 March 2020 — Quality assurance policy was modified to include a sustainability section to ensure compliance 1 September 2019 — BMT scores rescored against MSC CRv2.0 on reactivation of FIP on FS 1 May 2019 — Workshop held to present FIP progress and ongoing data collection to the fishermen and permit holders involved 1 April 2019 — Logbook to register the blue crab received in the facilities of the FIP partners 1 January 2017 — Ask for Federal Management Strategy for Blue Crab to be published 1 December 2016 — Meet INAPESCA to discuss management rules 1 January 2015 — Add by-catch monitoring to daily reporting 1 June 2014 — Gather the data on blue crab habitat and the role of crab fishing in the ecosystem 1 January 2014 — In 2014 a dialogue began with INAPESCA, the regulatory authority, to start to generate the information needed 1 October 2013 — A landings registry initiated to improve the monitoring of fishing catches to track changes over time better with respect to species mix, size and landing location.
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Sep 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 September 2023 — Increase to PI 2.4.3; An ecosystem monitoring report has been made available which provides information about the impact to the ecosystem and corresponding habitats of the Terminos Lagoon. 1 October 2020 — Increase in BMT score 2.2.1; PSA Analysis has been completed. Results indicate that the fishery represents a low risk to associated species 1 July 2017 — Monthly catch reporting by size, sex and place of landing
5. Improvements on the Water	Dec 14	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 December 2014 — Increase in MSC outcome scores: 1.1.1 and 2.2.1
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public