Three new companies have decided to commit to fishery improvement efforts for the Mexican grouper and snapper fishery spearheaded by Sea Delight and Handy International, in partnership with the Center for Development and Sustainable Fisheries (CeDePesca) and the Sea Delight Ocean Fund.
Following this year’s Seafood Expo North America event in Boston, where CeDePesca discussed details of the FIP with various stakeholders during an industry roundtable organized by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), Quirch Foods, Chefs Trading and the Mexican company Pescados y Mariscos del Caribe S.A (PESMAR) all signed on to the project, eager to establish a sound management system and rebuild stocks for one of the largest grouper and snapper fisheries in the country.
“Chefs Trading is proud to support the work being done and help with these complex issues. Finding a balance is important to everyone as this fishery provides a lively hood for the people of the region and is also a vital resource for the supply chain and consumers around the globe. We encourage suppliers, distributors, chefs as well as consumers to participate in helping fisheries become more sustainable through socially responsible fishery improvement projects,” said Chris Wirges, CEO of Chefs Trading, in a prepared statement.
“We are looking forward to cooperating in this essential effort,” PESMAR Managing Partner Rudy Abad said. “I believe this group is uniquely positioned to assure the continued vitality of what is arguably the most valuable snapper/grouper fishery in the world.”
In 2014, Sea Delight Ocean Fund acquired grants from the Resources Legacy Fund and Sea Pact to conduct an MSC pre-assessment of the Mexican grouper fishery, which was completed in March of that year. Funds have since been used to report on the current status of the fishery, to organize workshops using the Environmental Risk Assessment for the Effects of Fishing (ERAEF) to discuss environmental impacts of the fishery, and to coordinate local workshops with fishermen to discuss the pre-assessment results.
Participants said they view their involvement in the FIP as a testament to their commitment to sustainability.
“Sustainable and high quality supply is the cornerstone of Panamei Seafoods' procurement policy," said Alfred Montejo, a Procurement Seafood buyer. "We have established a purchasing policy geared towards sourcing products from long-term partners, processing plants and farms, which manage the resources in a responsible manner and rely on competent national authorities that employ science-based management approaches to ensuring sustainable harvests. Our participation in the Mexican Grouper FIP takes our commitment towards seafood sustainability one step further, as we become active participants in this FIP to ensure that that the fishery becomes well managed well into the future."
With the addition of the three new companies to the FIP, the grouper fishery in Mexico is experiencing a watershed moment, according to Adriana Sanchez, president of the Sea Delight Ocean Fund.
“I really believe this is a monumental moment for the Mexican Grouper Fishery Improvement Project,” she said.
