According to press release 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.
The fishery was first certified in 2004 and now again its products can use the MSC blue 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.
This is the first Latin American fishery to re-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 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.
Edgar Aguilar, president of FEDECOOP, said that the re-certification of the fishery involved researchers, managers and users of the fishery, among others, in a scheme of co-management. 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 said that the re-certification of the Baja California red rock lobster fishery will lead to further improvements in the sustainable management of the fishery.
