Positive Certification of Mexico for addressing IUU fishing
NOAA Fisheries has issued a positive
certification decision to Mexico for taking appropriate corrective actions to address
the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing issues it was negatively
certified for in our 2017 Biennial Report to Congress under the High Seas
Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. Mexico’s efforts to
establish economic disincentives, improve monitoring and surveillance, target
recidivists, and prosecute fishermen apprehended by the U.S. Coast Guard is the
basis for this positive certification.
Briefly, following Mexico’s negative certification in the 2017
Report, NOAA Fisheries worked with Mexico to address the actions cited—unauthorized fishing by
Mexican vessels, known as lanchas, in the United States EEZ of the Gulf of Mexico, and for overfishing of stocks shared with the United
States. Based on Mexico’s prosecution of individuals and fishing cooperatives
associated with unauthorized fishing in the U.S. EEZ and adoption of additional
actions to address these incursions, NOAA Fisheries has issued a positive
certification decision to Mexico.
It is of note that Mexico was also identified for additional cases of IUU fishing
in the 2017 Report. Failure to sustain its efforts to combat IUU fishing could,
therefore, result in another negative certification in NOAA’s 2019 Report to
Congress.
Supporting the economic and environmental
sustainability of U.S. and global fisheries is a key component of the U.S.
reputation as a global leader in responsible management of fisheries. In
collaboration with foreign governments, the U.S. tracks, identifies,
and combats IUU fishing and other unsustainable fishing practices that threaten
our shared natural resources. We identify countries whose
fishing vessels were reported to be engaged in these activities, and consult with those countries to address those activities and improve their fisheries
management and enforcement practices. Following these consultations, NOAA
Fisheries determines whether to negatively or positively certify the identified
nation in the next Report to Congress.
Additional information can be found here.
Regards,
Laurel
Laurel G. Bryant
Chief, External Affairs
NOAA Fisheries Communications Office
Laurel.Bryant@noaa.gov
(o) 301.427.8032
(c) 240.429.9408
Find us online
www.fisheries.noaa.gov
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