Updated to MSC v 2.0. Rationale

Preliminary snapshot of the fishery's current standing against the criteria of the Seafood Watch program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Marine Stewardship Council pre-assessment of the fishery (available upon request)

Current participants

Participants list updated 

Pontchartrain and its Yucatan suppliers made a commitment

2022 updated workplan

2019 workplan

Workplan update 

Activities and next steps available

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.

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. 

The 2022 Carta National Pesquera has been published; management strategies including minimum size and the release of ovigerous females are included in the CNP

Best practices workshop held in August and September with 120 fishers in attendance. 

Interviews conducted with individual blue crab fishermen from several localities to help inform the updated workplan

Habitat and ecosystem information has been made available

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. 

Identification key for crab species of the Peninsula of Yucatan has been developed

Growth, mortality and relative yield report produced

FIP meeting held with Inapesca

Quality assurance policy was modified to include a sustainability section to ensure compliance 

The database with results from the the Biological Monitoring Program continues to be updated and is currently being prepared to carry out corresponding analyses. 

A preliminary map was created based off of surveys carried out on fishermen that describe the fishing areas

Increased in monitoring and data collection to increase information base for management purposes

Common bycatch species are identified and recorded by fishermen

Progress continues with the implementation of the monitoring program, using the Catch Record Format to obtain basic biological information on the blue crab

BMT scores rescored against MSC CRv2.0 on reactivation of FIP on FS 

Workshop held to present FIP progress and ongoing data collection to the fishermen and permit holders involved

Logbook to register the blue crab received in the facilities of the FIP partners

Ask for Federal Management Strategy for Blue Crab to be published 

Meet INAPESCA to discuss management rules 

Add by-catch monitoring to daily reporting 

Gather the data on blue crab habitat and the role of crab fishing in the ecosystem

In 2014 a dialogue began with INAPESCA, the regulatory authority, to start to generate the information needed

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.

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.

Increase in BMT score 2.2.1; PSA Analysis has been completed. Results indicate that the fishery represents a low risk to associated species

Monthly catch reporting by size, sex and place of landing

Increase in MSC outcome scores: 1.1.1 and 2.2.1