COMPLETED US Texas shrimp - otter trawl

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Overview

What is a Completed FIP?

Completed FIPs are those that have independent verification that they have achieved their environmental objectives and/or graduated to MSC full assessment or other program assessment. Completed FIPs no longer report on their environmental performance but may choose to voluntarily report on their social performance.

Date of Completion: Jan 2023

Explanation of Completion: The FIP has entered into the MSC full assessment process.

Completion Link

In 2008, a FIP was announced for the Texas shrimp fishery led by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). 

A public work plan for the fishery was published in 2012 with the goals of 1) reducing bycatch through fine-tuning turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and bycatch reduction devices (BRDs), and  2) evaluating NOAA's observer program coverage. Both of these actions are still ongoing within the Texas Shrimp FIP. Fine-tuning of TEDs has shown substantial success in helping industry reduce sea turtle bycatch, with NOAA reporting an increase in TED effectiveness from an average of approximately 89% in 2014 to over 95% in 2016 and 2017. SFP's Shrimp Supplier Roundtable continues to engage NOAA regarding observers on a regional level. 

In 2016, SFP handed over leadership of the FIP to the Audubon Nature Institute’s Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries Program (G.U.L.F.), a regional group that is able to work closely with industry members in Texas to further enhance the sustainability of the fishery. Initially, the second stage of the Texas Shrimp FIP started as a Basic FIP. However, based on participant needs, it transitioned into a Comprehensive FIP as outlined by the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. 

FIP Description 

In 2008, a FIP was announced for the Texas shrimp fishery led by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). 

FIP Objective(s) 

To improve the sustainability of the fishery to a level of MSC certification by end of 2022

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
June 2016
December 2022
Update 
The current Saltonstall-Kennedy funded project to fully characterize bycatch is funded as a two year project, ending in August 2022. Extending the timeline to December of that year will allow for this project to be completed and for the fishery to prepare for full assessment upon its completion. This will also allow more time for the other remaining activities and add some buffer for the impacts of COVID-19.
Species 
Common Name 
Brown Shrimp
Scientific Name
Farfantepenaeus aztecus
Buying Guide Link Image 
Brown Shrimp
Buying Guide
Common Name 
White Shrimp
Scientific Name
Litopenaeus setiferus
Buying Guide Link Image 
White Shrimp
Buying Guide
Gear Type 
Otter Trawl
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
United States of America (the)
Geographic Scope 
Texas state waters, federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
25,840 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
25,840 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2020
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
June 01, 2016
14% 86%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
Not yet available
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Target End Date
Dec 2022
Additional Impacts:
Roundtable

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Audubon Nature Institute's Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries
Primary Contact 
John Fallon
Email 
jfallon@auduboninstitute.org
Phone 
504-762-9116
Website Name 
Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
2706