Press Release
Mexican Shrimp Council Reveals Naked Truth About Sustainability
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.
Safeguarding 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.
