Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Gulf of California Shrimp Fishery Buyer and Importer Procurement Guidance

Transcription

1 SustainableFisheriesPartnership GulfofCaliforniaShrimpFishery BuyerandImporter ProcurementGuidance Background SustainableFisheriesPartnership(SFP)hasbeenengagedineffortstoimprovethesustainabilitystatus ofthemexicanpacificindustrialtrawlshrimpfisherysince2007.theinitialphaseofthisworkinvolved ademonstrationprojecttotestnewgearandtrackingtechnologytomeasureimprovementsinbycatch reduction, benthic impact and catch verification. The results of the pilot program demonstrated that significantenvironmentalimprovementscouldbemadeifvesselscompliedwithcurrentmexicanfishery regulationsandutilizedthetechnologyproperly.theresultsalsoshowedthatshrimpvesselsoperating inthesameareawithtraditionalgearnotonlyhadgreaterbycatchbutalsosomewhatgreatercatchper unit of effort (CPUE). However the increase in productivity among industrial shrimp fishing vessels appearsmoretheresultofnon compliancewithregulationsincludingdisablingturtleexcluderdevices (TED), less effective or no bycatch reduction devices and often fishing in no take zones, including waters of less than five fathoms in depth. It was calculated that the total result of regulatory noncompliance resulted in a 15 percent productivity advantage. SFP has also observed that the artisanal fleetoftenusesfishinggearthatdoesnotmeetthemexicanofficialstandard(nom 002)specifications. In 2008 and 2009 SFP worked with industrial and artisanal fleets to communicate concerns regarding regulatorycompliance.meetingswerealsoheldwithu.s.importersofmexicanshrimptoconveysfp s concerns regarding regulatory compliance. During this same period SFP initiated a pre assessment to themarinestewardshipcouncilstandardofanumberofshrimpfisherieswithinthegulfofcalifornia. This pre assessment included both artisanal and industrial shrimp fisheries and evaluated three key performance criteria: stock status, ecosystem health and management effectiveness. These findings indicatemajorproblemsinmostareaswithrespecttoecosystemhealthandmanagementeffectiveness while stock status was identified as a major problem only in the Sinaloa trawl and artisanal fisheries. Thepre assessmentresultsmatchedamexicancartanacionalpesquera2006reportthatshowedmost shrimpstocksatmaximumsustainableyieldordeteriorated. Inlate2009SFPbeganwarningU.S.importersandbuyersthattheMexicanshrimpfisherywaslikelyout ofcompliancewithu.s.tedregulationsandanembargoonimportswasastrongpossibility.inmarch 2010 the U.S. government announced that a survey of Mexican shrimp vessels found wide spread disregardfortedsandanembargoonu.s.importsofshrimpfromtheindustrialfleetwasannounced. WhiletheembargogeneratedsomepublicityithadaminimaleffectontheMexicanshrimpindustryas theembargowasliftedinoctoberof2010justintimeforthe shrimpseason.Theembargo 1

2 was lifted after U.S. officials announced that Mexico had improved its turtle protection strategies to meetu.s.requirements. CurrentSituation While the U.S. embargo of Mexican shrimp brought attention to the issue of regulatory compliance withintheindustrialtrawlfishery,ithasnotsolvedtheproblemsthatneedtobeaddressedbeforeu.s. importers and buyers can be assured the product they are purchasing, either from industrial and/or artisanalvessels,isfromalegalandenvironmentallysustainablefishery. FromSFP sperspectivetheissuesimportersandbuyersneedtobeawareofare: MostofMexico sindustrialtrawlfisheriesremainovercapitalizedandoverexploited. Illegal and furtive fishing continues with respect to gear compliance, non authorized vessels and notake zones. Regulatoryenforcementisinadequate. Bycatchreductiondevicesarenotcurrentlyrequired. TEDenforcementisnotproperlyverifiable. Overthepasttwoyearsalmosteverymajorsupermarketchainandmanyfoodserviceoperatorsinthe UnitedStatesandCanadahasmadeacommitmenttosustainableseafoodprocurement.Manyofthese commitments have been made with the guidance and collaboration of various non governmental organizations(ngos)suchassfp,worldwildlifefund,fishwise,montereybayaquariumandothers. These sustainability commitments all include an implied understanding that the products purchased mustcomefromfisheriesthatareconductedincompliancewithallapplicablelawsandregulations.in other words, the products must have been caught legally using proper gear and within established fishinggrounds. OfficialMexicanShrimpStandard Mexico drafted a standard for their shrimp fishery in 1993 (with amendments thereafter See appendix). This standard addresses issues such as no take zones, legal mesh sizes and utilization of turtle excluder devices. It is SFP s position that if compliance with the Mexican shrimp standard was adequatelyenforcedandindependentlyverified;issuesrelatedtolegalitywouldbegreatlyreduced. SFP srecommendationtoimportersandbuyers SFP does not believe that under the current situation in Mexico, U.S. importers and retail/foodservice buyersofmexicanshrimpcanbeassuredthattheproducttheyarehandlingisfromlegallyconducted fisheriesthatarecomplyingfullywiththemexicanofficialstandard.thissituationputsimportersand buyersatriskofviolatingfederallaw,mostspecificallythelaceyactwhichprohibitsthepossessionand tradeinseafoodcaughtillegally.thecurrentsituation(includinglackofbycatchreductiondevices)also 2

3 doesnotsatisfytherequirementsmostmajorretailerscurrentlyhavewithrespecttotheirsustainability commitments.toaddressthissituationsfprecommendsthatbuyersandimportersrequestevidence ofcompliancewiththemexicanstandardandthatthesemexicansuppliersberequiredtoenterintoa contractwithimporters(ortheirnominatedauditors)thatincludes,butisnotlimitedto,verificationof compliance with the elements of the Standard. SFP also suggests that buyers and importers communicate their support for the adoption by the Mexican government of the use of bycatch reductiondevicesintheindustrialtrawlfishery. SFPRecommendationtoRetailandFoodserviceBuyers SFP will recommend to retail partners that with respect to shrimp from the Gulf of California their suppliersberequiredtoprovideevidencethattothebestoftheirknowledgeallmexicanpacificshrimp products sold to that retailer have been legally caught and conform fully to U.S. law and the Mexican Shrimp Standard. In addition, SFP recommends that retailers request evidence of compliance in the form of audits carried out by independent third parties. Finally, SFP recommends that buyers communicatetotheirsupplierstheimportanceofbycatchreductiondevicesandaskstheirsuppliersto supportintroductionofmandatoryutilizationofbycatchreductiondeviceswithinthefishery. SFPRecommendationtoImporters SFPproposesthatimportersrequire(bycontract 1 )thatthefollowingsixstatementsaretobeattested tobytheirsupplierofshrimpandshrimpproductsharvestedfromwatersinthemexicanpacific. SupplierStatements: Theundersigned,onbehalfofthesupplierofshrimpandshrimpproductsharvestedfromtheGulfof Californiaspecifiedbelow(the Supplier ),herebycertifiesastothefollowing: 1. Tothebestofitsknowledge,allproductsandmaterialssuppliedbytheSuppliertoanyPurchaseror anyothercustomerof,orpurchaserfrom,thesupplierarelegallycaughtandconformfullytoall applicablenationalandinternationallaws(includingallstatutesandregulations)governingthe captureandlandingofshrimp. 1 TheSupplieralsoconfirmsthatitfullycomplieswithallapplicable Mexicangovernmentguidelinesandcontrolinstructionsforsuchproductsandmaterials. 2. EvidenceofcompliancewithClause1,above,willbemadeavailabletorepresentativesofthe partiespurchasingsuchproductsormaterialsfromthesupplier(whetherdirectlyorindirectly) (each,a Purchaser )andtheirrespectiveauditorsforinspectionpurposes.failureofthesupplier tocomplywiththecovenants,representationsandwarrantiesmadeinthiscertificationmayleadto legalandcommercialconsequencesincludingtheterminationofcontractstowhichthesupplierisa party(inaccordancewiththeprovisionssetforthinsuchcontracts). 3. TheSupplierunderstandsthatithasaresponsibility(i)tomaintainanuptodatestateofknowledge regardingapplicablelaws,statutes,regulations,guidelines,instructions,legislationand recommendedprocedureswhichaffecttheoperationofitsbusinessand(ii)toensurethatits 1 This draft contract has been reviewed the SFP legal counsel with respect to U.S. and Mexican trade law and found not to violate anti-trust provisions. Thesignatoryofthisdocumentmustbeanexecutiveofficerwithlegalresponsibilityand accountabilityforthesupplyingvesselorthecompanywhichownsthatvessel. A copy of the opinion is in the appendix. 3

4 businessremainsfullycompliantintheeventoftheintroductionofanynewlaw,statute,regulation, guidelineorinstructionoranychangestoanyexistinglaw,statute,regulation,guidelineor instruction. 4. TheSupplierisobligedtoimmediatelyinformthePurchasersofanyallegationorconvictionofa breachofanylaw,statute,regulation,guidelineorinstructionreferredtoinclause1aboveaswell asanyinvestigationundertakenbyagovernmentalorindustryauthorityrelatingtoanysuch allegationorconviction.thesupplieracknowledgesandagreesthatsuchauthoritiesmay,uponthe requestofapurchaser,disclosethisinformationtoapurchaser. 5. TheSupplieracceptsthataPurchasermayalsodiscloserelevanttraceabilityinformationabout productsandmaterialsuppliedbythesuppliertoanapplicablegovernmentalorindustryauthority andanyotherinterestedthirdparty,asappropriate. 6. TheSupplieracknowledgesthatactivitiesinexecutionofthiscertificationwillbesubjecttoregular auditmeasuresbyindependentthirdparties. ImprovingGulfofCaliforniaShrimpFisheries The mission of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership is to maintain healthy ocean and aquatic ecosystems,enhancefishingandfish farmingandsecurefoodsupplies.themexicanshrimpsupplychain hasastrongroletoplayininsuringthatgulfofcalifornia/pacificoceanshrimpissustainable,legaland financialviable.sfpintendstoworkwithallsectorsofthesupplychainandthemexicangovernmentto insure that the fishery is using the best available technology to reduce bycatch and environmental impactsandisfullycompliantwithcurrentfisheryregulations.buyersneedtofeelconfidentthatwhen theypurchasewildmexicanshrimpthatitisfromfisheriesthatarenotoverexploitedordepletedand areonatracktomeetinginternationalstandardsforsustainability. SFP splanofactionfor2011includes: LetterstokeyU.S.importersofwildMexicanshrimpwarningthemofSFP scontinuedconcern regarding illegal fishing in the Gulf, reminding them of the Lacey Act and proposing they use controldocumentsasamechanismforprotectingthemselvesfromconsequencesofpossessing illegallycaughtshrimp. LetterstoallSFPcommercialretailpartnersstatingthatSFPrecommendsthattheywillrequire in their procurement specifications that their suppliers of wild Mexican shrimp adopt control documentsasabove.sfpwillfollowupwithcallsandvisitsasnecessarytopersuadecompanies toadoptthecontroldocumentorsimilarapproaches. Work with U.S. NGOs to ensure they understand the ask of major retailers and foodservice operators(i.e.,thestrategyandkeyelementssuchasthecontroldocument),andaretakinga similarmessageforwardtothecompaniestheypartnerwith. 4

5 Work with Mexican regulators and fishing organizations to improve/enhance regulatory oversightandcomplianceverificationasfollow: Industrialsector Operateanindependentverificationsystemtoenforcetheobservanceofexisting regulations Operateanindependentverifiablevesselmonitoringsystem(VMS)todemonstrate,on avessel by vesselbasis,thefullobservanceoftheexistingregulations Generate whitelists ofvesselsobservingtheexistingregulations Implementachainofcustodysystem,equivalenttothatrequiredbyMarine StewardshipCouncil,forthelandingsofthewhitelistedvessels Artisanalsector: Operateanindependentverificationsystemtoenforcetheobservanceofexisting regulations Implementachainofcustodysystem,equivalenttothoserequiredbyMSC,forthe landingsofthewhitelistedvessels In addition, SFP will continue running Fishery Improvement Partnerships (FIPs) with artisanal shrimp fisheriesinthefollowingareasofmexico: Upper Gulf of California: Working with participating U.S. importers, World Wildlife Fund, CONANPESCA, INAPESCA, and the San Felipe Federation of cooperatives in the evaluation of alternative gear to minimize entanglement of endangered species within the Upper Gulf of California biosphere reserve and surrounding waters. Development of alternative species fishingincludingimplementationofachainofcustodyandassistanceintheestablishmentofa viablesupplychainandmarketsfortheresultingproduct. Central Sonora: Working with INAPESCA, a union of fishing cooperatives in the design and implementationofthefipworkplantoaddressthedeficienciesinthefisheryhighlightedbythe MarineStewardshipCouncil(MSC)pre assessment. Sinaloa coastal lagoons: Working with INAPESCA, CONAPESCA, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)andthefederationofcooperativesintheMSCpre assessmentandthedevelopmentofa chainofcustodyforthatproduct. Bahia Magdalena: Working with the artisanal fishery and local producers on a fishery improvementworkplan. 5

6 6 Appendix: I. OfficialMexicanShrimpStandard ThefollowingistheMexicanOfficialStandard(NOM)forshrimpfisherycomplianceandisrequiredfor theshrimptobeconsidered legal. MexicanOfficialStandard Date:December31st,1993 Purpose:Toguaranteetheconservation,preservationandoptimaluseofthedifferentshrimpspecies populationsincoastallagoonsandestuaries,baysandmarinewatersoffederaljurisdiction. Geographicapplication:ThisNOMismandatoryforthosededicatedtotheexploitationofallshrimp speciesincoastallagoonsandestuaries,baysandmarinewatersoffederaljurisdictionwithinthegulfof MexicoandCaribbeanSea,aswellasthePacificOceanincludingtheGulfofCalifornia Speciesincluded(PacificOceanandGulaofCalifornia:Camaróncafé(Farfanteenaeuscaliforniensis), Camarónblanco(Litopenaeusvannamei);Camarónblancodelsur(Litopenaeusoccidentalis);Camarón azul(l.stylirostris);camaróncristal(penaeusbrevirostris);camarónjaponés(sicyoniaspp);camarón7 barbas(xiphopenaeusriveti);camarónzebra(trachypenaeusfaoea);camarónrojoreal(pleoticus robustus);camarónbotalóndelpacífico(trachipenaeuspacificus). Rulesforcoastallagoons,estuariesandbaysintheGulfofMexicoandCaribbeanSea,aswellasthe PacificOceanincludingtheGulfofCalifornia: 1. Fishingequipment:minorvesselwithoutboardmotorwith55HPmaximum.(Amendedin2006to 115HPoutboardmotors).Minorvessel:carryingcapacity<10metrictons. 2. Authorizedfishinggear:Catchnetwith37.5mmmeshsize.Amendedin1997toallowgillnetand modifiedcastnet(suripera)insonoraandnorthofsinaloa.amendedin2001toallowtheuseof MagdalenaIandSuriperainMagdalenaBay,BajaCalifornia. 3. Thesecretaryoffisherieswillestablishclosedseasonand/orclosedareastoprotectreproduction andrecruitment. RulesformarinewatersofthePacificOceanincludingtheGulfofCalifornia: Authorizedfishinggear:Majorvessels(carryingcapacity>10metrictons),bottomtrawlwiththe followingcharacteristics: 1.75inchesminimummeshsizeinthebody(includingwings,selling,squares,floor). 1.5inchesminimummeshsizeforthecodend Doublewebbingforprotectionisallowedonlyfortheinferiorportionofthecodend Certifiedcopyofthefishinglicenseisrequiredonboard Licenseholdersareobligatedto:

7 Avoidtheretentionortransportationofseaturtles,deadoralive,orportionsofseaturtlesthat couldbeeventuallycapturedincidentally. Returntothesea,attheendofthefishingtrawl,theseaturtlesincidentallycaptured,inzones wherethepossibilitiesforrecapturediminish.crewsmustwarrantythatturtlesaliverecover beforetheirreturntosea. Participateintheshrimpresearchprograms Allowonboardobserversdesignatedbythesecretary Trawlnets,besidesthetargetspeciescannotbeusedinthewaterswith0 5fathomsdepth and/orinanareaof5milesradioaroundthemouthsthatcommunicatebays,coastallagoons, estuariesandriverswiththeopenwatersunlessthecasesrecommendedbythenational InstituteofFisheries Documentandregisterfishingoperationsintheauthorizedlogbook,whichwillbepresented witheachlandingreport Thesecretarywilldetermineclosedareasand/orseasonsforreproductionandrecruitment TurtleExcluderDeviceUseinallfishingoperations 7