FishSource

Mexico Baja California red sea urchin - diver-caught (FIP)

Last Updated:

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2019-12-13

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Mexico National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), Pronatura Noroeste A.C. (PNA)

Stock Profile Link
Red sea urchin - Eastern Pacific: Baja

Comments:

The FIP's last stage 4 is between 12-24 months old with recent stage 3 progress reported in the last 6 months. The FIP drops to C rating.

1. FIP Development	Dec 19	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 13 December 2019 — MSC pre-assesment made available
2. FIP Launch	Jan 20	Confirmation of project participants 31 January 2020 — Participants list confirmed
2. FIP Launch	May 22	Workplan made public 13 May 2022 — Updated workplan made available for 2020-2024 13 December 2019 — Workplan made available
3. FIP Implementation	Sep 22	FIP activities undertaken 10 September 2022 — The FIP continues to progress on building a fishery management committee; Letters have been sent to the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture requesting support for the committee. 22 July 2022 — Fishers continue to record data via logbooks; several entries from July 2022 have been made available. 15 July 2022 — FIP meeting held in July 2022; the FIP agreed that Pronatura will share the internal inspection and surveillance format with the fishery producers. 14 July 2022 — Pronatura assisted in organizing a workshop on brown algae mariculture in July 2022. The workshop introduced tools to guide the implementation of macroalgae beds as a part of a larger strategy to work toward sea urchin bed recovery. 1 March 2022 — Training held for fishers on montioring projects and recording logbook data; presentation made available 1 February 2022 — Review of the red sea urchin transplant method analysis as a fishery management strategy; potential ecological and management impacts explored 30 November 2021 — FIP workshop held to review progress to implement a fishery management committee 15 October 2021 — A workshop was conducted for the certification of monitor divers; six monitors representing 8 fishing organizations were certified 28 September 2021 — FIP meeting held via zoom to discuss fishing logs and data collection 1 September 2021 — Technical meeting held March 2021; FIP technical advisor presented the results of an environmental variability report 1 September 2021 — FIP continues to work on setting up a fishery management committee 1 September 2021 — Report produced on the status of the stock based on 2021 annual catch data has been made available. 1 September 2021 — Workshop on mariculture of brown macroalgae held 1 February 2021 — The FIP technical advisor concluded research that the main findings reflect the relationship of environmental variables on the density of urchin banks on the coast of Baja California. 25 January 2021 — At the meeting held on January 25, SUBPESCA offered collaboration and joint training to fishermen and monitors for the operation of the FIP 14 January 2021 — The Director General of Fisheries Management proposed a work agenda for the installation of advisory committees and/subcommittees of different species in Baja California 1 December 2020 — Technical meeting was held in December 2020 to agree on the need to create a recovery plan for hedgehog banks 1 September 2020 — The diagnosis of the inspection and surveillance of the Red Sea Urchin fishery was completed 1 September 2020 — An analysis was conducted on environmental and ecosystem variability 1 September 2020 — Analysis for the strengthening of inspection and surveillance in the fishery of red urchin is underway 1 June 2020 — Workplan and relevant tasks have been updated for 2020-2021
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Nov 22	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 November 2022 — Paper produced on the red urchin population density; the projections included in the paper demonstrate that it's likely the urchin population is well maintained with high productivity levels and a low probability of overfishing.
5. Improvements on the Water	May 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 31 May 2021 — Increase in PI 1.1.1; -New stock assessment completed - this stock assessment presents evidence that supports that it is highly likely that the stock is above the PRI and that it is also fluctuating around a level consistent with MSY
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public