The Baja California red rock lobster fishery off the coast of Baja California, Mexico has been re-certified following an independent assessment.
This fishery was certified as sustainable from 2004 to 2009, and products from the fishery are now again eligible to bear the blue MSC 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.
The Baja California red rock lobster fishery was the first Latin American and first community-based, developing world artisanal fishery 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 10 cooperatives operating in the central region of the Baja California peninsula catch approximately 80% of the total catch of this species nationally. Together they operate 232 vessels and use approximately 15,635 traps each season to harvest the lobster. The total catch for the last five seasons (2005-2010) for the central fishing region is approximately 1,400mt.
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% of the product is exported mostly to Asia. The United States and France constitute a small proportion of the exports. The remaining 10% is sold domestically, mainly to restaurants.
“The re-certification of the fishery involved researchers, managers and users of the fishery, among others, in a scheme of co-management,” said Edgar Aguilar, president of FEDECOOP. “Maintaining the MSC standard not only permits access to preferential markets, but confirms the lobster population will be maintained at levels that permit sustainable development in the fishing communities of Baja California.”
