Area 31 (Atlantic, Western Central)

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: Sep 2022

Explanation of Completion: The FIP is entering MSC full assessment.

Completion Link

Nicaragua is the largest Caribbean spiny lobster fishery that supplies the United States. Thousands of Nicaraguans earn a livelihood through the fishery, from vessel owners and fishermen to packing plant employees. A critical issue challenging this fishery is the likelihood of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) that weakens management of the resource and equitable access for local livelihoods. Concurrent issues are a lack of new or improved data from the artisanal sector to inform the stock status, bycatch, and habitat impacts from lobster traps. There are still some uncertainties relating to the structure of the stock population that need to be taken into account - even though Nicaraguan stock assessment methods are appropriate for the spiny lobster resource and for the implementation of harvest control rules, issues can arise due to the fact that this lobster fishery is also shared with Honduras. The evaluation needs to consider both countries in order to achieve an unconditional pass under the MSC standard.

Nicaragua is the largest Caribbean spiny lobster fishery that supplies the United States. Thousands of Nicaraguans earn a livelihood through the fishery, from vessel owners and fishermen to packing plant employees. A critical issue challenging this fishery is the likelihood of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) that weakens management of the resource and equitable access for local livelihoods. Concurrent issues are a lack of new or improved data from the artisanal sector to inform the stock status, bycatch, and habitat impacts from lobster traps.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2012
15% 48% 37%
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
Jun 2022

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
WWF
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Pilar Velasquez
Email 
PVelasquez@wwfca.org
Website Name 
WWF Guatemala | WWF
Organization Name 
WWF
Primary Contact 
Wendy Goyert
Email 
wendy.goyert@wwfus.org
Website Name 
WWF Seafood Sustainability
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.
506

Overview

Red grouper and black grouper are two of the main target species for the mixed demersal fishery in the Bank of Campeche, located to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico.  This seasonal fishery is of high social importance, given that more than 10 thousand families depend on it for their livelihood. 

Currently, the red grouper stock is below its limit reference point, and there is much to do to improve management strategies to effectively regulate fishing effort and catch levels so that the species may recover.  This project aims at achieving a certifiable status against the MSC standard by collaborating with governmental and private stakeholders to develop and implement a consistent recovery strategy (complete with effective data collection, monitoring and control), and an adequate research plan to close information gaps on the fishery and its interaction with other ecosystem components.

For more information on improvement activities, please visit:  CeDePesca's Mexican Grouper FIP Public report (updated quaterly).

Red grouper and black grouper are two of the main target species for the mixed demersal fishery in the Bank of Campeche, located to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico.  This seasonal fishery is of high social importance, given that more than 10 thousand families depend on it for their livelihood. 

FIP at a Glance

View current status
April 01, 2014
32% 54% 14%
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
C Some Recent Progress
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
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2026
Additional Impacts:
Roundtable

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
CeDePesca
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Minerva Alonso
Email 
minerva.alonso@cedepesca.net
Phone 
+529992423250
Website Name 
Mexican grouper FIP
Organization Name 
PESMAR
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Rudy Abad
Email 
rudy@pesmar.com.mx
Phone 
+529699353500
Website Name 
http://www.pesmar.com.mx/
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.
338

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 achieved certification through the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certificate Program.

Completion Link

The Florida Pink Shrimp FIP was established in 2011 by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and Cox's Wholesale Seafood LLC.  The scope of the fishery targets the Pink Shrimp specie, although White and Brown Shrimp are also harvested in these waters but are considered primary retained species. Two gears are used; Skimmers (primarily in-shore waters) and Otter Trawls, which harvest the majority of the Pink shrimp specie.  All fleets fishing for Cox's Wholesale Seafood, LLC must be licensed and abide by all NMFS requirements for US based shrimp fleets.  The use of Turtle Excluder Devices and By-Catch Reduction Devices are mandatory for all fleets within the scope.  The fishery is  able to be assessed within the scope of the MSC Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing, as stated in the 2016 Pre-Assessment. 

The Florida Pink Shrimp FIP was established in 2011 by Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and Cox's Wholesale Seafood LLC.  The scope of the fishery targets the Pink Shrimp specie, although White and Brown Shrimp are also harvested in these waters but are considered primary retained species.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2010
3% 34% 62%
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:
TraceabilityEcosystemRoundtableOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Cox's Wholesale Seafood
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Nancy Mathews
Email 
Nmathews@coxseafood.com
Phone 
(813) 888-9800
Website Name 
Cox's Wholesale Seafood
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.
209

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 achieved certification through the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certificate Program.

Completion Link

In 2010, a FIP was announced for the Louisiana shrimp fishery led by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). A public work plan for the fishery was finalized in November of 2012 with the goals of 1) creating a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the shrimp fishery management and monitoring in state waters, 2) releasing information on sea turtle interactions in state waters, 3) publishing information on state fishery management systems, and 4) releasing information on fishery enforcement including summarized compliance and enforcement data.  As of August 2015, all of these actions had been completed.

SFP handed 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 Louisiana to further enhance the sustainability of the fishery. Initially, the second stage of the Louisiana Shrimp FIP started as a Basic FIP. However, based on participant needs, it transitioned to a Comprehensive FIP as outlined by the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions.

In 2010, a FIP was announced for the Louisiana shrimp fishery led by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).

FIP at a Glance

View current status
June 01, 2016
7% 43% 50%
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:
RoundtableOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Audubon Nature Institute's Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries
Organization Type 
NGO
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.
111

Overview

The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery provides a livelihood for hundreds of fishers and packing plant processors in Honduras. This industrial Honduran fishery faces critical issues including a lack of robust data to inform stock status and management decisions, limited information on impacts of lobster traps on marine habitats and ecosystems, an ineffective legal management framework, and limited resources to enforce fishing regulations. But with the active involvement of FIP stakeholders, such as General Directorate for Fishing and Aquaculture (DIGPESCA), and FIP Participants, the challenges facing this fishery are being addressed against the MSC standard.

The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery provides a livelihood for hundreds of fishers and packing plant processors in Honduras. This industrial Honduran fishery faces critical issues including a lack of robust data to inform stock status and management decisions, limited information on impacts of lobster traps on marine habitats and ecosystems, an ineffective legal management framework, and limited resources to enforce fishing regulations.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
July 01, 2012
46% 39% 14%
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
D Some Past Progress
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
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2025
Target End Date
Jul 2028

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
WWF-US
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Wendy Goyert
Email 
wendy.goyert@wwfus.org
Website Name 
WWF Seafood Sustainability
Organization Name 
WWF Guatemala/Mesoamerica
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Gabriela Pineda
Email 
gpineda@wwfca.org
Website Name 
WWF Seafood Sustainability
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.
68

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.

Explanation of Completion: This FIP was completed in January 2017. The fishery achieved MSC certification in August 2018.

Completion Link

The Bahamas spiny lobster fishery exports the majority of its product to the United States and Europe for an estimated $80 million dollars. Thousands of Bahamians earn a livelihood fishing for lobster on a full or part-time basis. Critical issues challenging this fishery include the following: government capacity to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; adopting a harvest strategy; reviewing management performance; and collecting reliable spatial catch data. The active involvement of FIP stakeholders, including the Bahamas Marine Exporters Association (BMEA), the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), as well as other FIP Participants, drives improvements against the Marine Stewardship Council standard.

The Bahamas spiny lobster fishery exports the majority of its product to the United States and Europe for an estimated $80 million dollars. Thousands of Bahamians earn a livelihood fishing for lobster on a full or part-time basis. Critical issues challenging this fishery include the following: government capacity to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; adopting a harvest strategy; reviewing management performance; and collecting reliable spatial catch data.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2010
14% 61% 21% 4%
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 2016

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
World Wildlife Fund
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Wendy Goyert
Email 
wendy.goyert@wwfus.org
Phone 
202-495-4331
Website Name 
WWF Seafood Sustainability
Organization Name 
The Nature Conservancy
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Natalie Miaoulis
Email 
natalie.miaoulis@tnc.org
Website Name 
The Nature Conservancy
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.
56

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