The news report revealed that US has blocked imports of some Mexican shrimp because the fishing process in that nation may be harming sea turtles. According to the State Department the ban on wild harvest shrimp from Mexico’s commercial fisheries takes effect April 20. Official figure shows that the country imported $366 million worth of shellfish from Mexico last year, according to government data.
The report says that the State Department is acting on a law intended to prevent the incidental taking of turtles by requiring devices to keep them out of fishing nets. The department revealed that Mexico’s program for turtle excluder devices, or TEDs, no longer meets U.S. standards. Dawn Martin, president of SeaWeb, a San Francisco-based group that promotes sustainable seafood supplies, expressed that TED devices are one of the most effective means of protecting the endangered sea turtles.
NOAA’s rules state that capture, injury or death during fishing operations is a major threat to marine turtles. The U.S. has worked with the fishing industry to develop devices that allow shrimp to enter nets while keeping turtles and sharks out, and has provided Mexico with recommendations for improving its program.
