Camara Nacional de la Industria Pesquera, Delagación Sonora has entered its Gulf of California, Mexico thread herring purse seine fishery into Marine Stewardship Council assessment for certification.
The fishery uses purse seine nets in the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) area 77, managed by the Instituto Nacional de Pesca (INAPESCA). Thread herring are caught as a secondary species group in the MSC certified sardine fishery in the Gulf of California. Other than the Mexican sardine fishery, the thread herring fishery has limited interaction with the numerous other fisheries in the same area that catch other species.
The fishery complies with Sections 27.4 of the MSC Certification Requirements and does not engage in destructive fishing practices or violate any international agreements, nor is it controversial in the international community, and is, as part of the Mexican Pacific sardine fishery, in scope of a full assessment.
Companies involved in this process have 36 vessels in operation. In 2009/2010, the total allowable catch quota of thread herring for this fishery unit was 85,116t. About 80% of the total production is used for reduction to fishmeal, which is usually utilised for animal feeds, the other 20% are canned. Of a total catch of 360,000t of pelagic fish for the fisheries, the catch of pacific sardine for the same period was 256,409t.
