Mexico Baja California red sea urchin - diver-caught

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Overview

The Mexico Baja California North Pacific red sea urchin - diver-caught FIP is being implemented to obtain the certification for MSC Fisheries Standard. The interest of implementing this FIP arose from the project Fish for Good of the MSC, whose results identified the potential of the red sea urchin fishery on the west coast of Baja California, Mexico to enter in a process of fishery improvement. As part of the initial stages of this FIP, the fishery is also entering the ITM (In Transition to MSC Certification) program of the MSC.

The target stock is distributed along the western coast of the Baja California Peninsula from the Coronado Islands to Cedros Island in Baja California. The fleet is licensed and registered fishermen in Baja California, operating small vessels with hookah-equipment, organized mainly in fishing cooperatives.

The FIP stakeholders are these fishermen, federal and state governments, an academic institution and an NGO. The stakeholders developed a work plan to meet the improvement recommendations from the MSC pre-assessment to achieve a sustainable fishery status by the end of 2027.

El FIP de erizo rojo está siendo implementado para obtener la certificación para pesquerías sostenibles del MSC. El interés de implementar este FIP surgió del proyecto denominado Fish for Good del MSC, en cuyos resultados se identificó el potencial de la pesquería de erizo rojo en la costa occidental de Baja California, México para entrar en un proceso de mejora pesquera. Como parte de las etapas iniciales de este FIP, la pesquería además está entrando en el programa ITM (In Transition to MSC certifcation) del MSC.

El stock objetivo se distribuye a lo largo de la costa occidental de la Península de Baja California desde las Islas Coronado hasta Isla de Cedros en Baja California. La flota cuenta con pescadores autorizados y registrados en Baja California, operando embarcaciones pequeñas con equipo de hookah, organizados principalmente en cooperativas pesqueras.

Los participantes del FIP son estos pescadores, gobiernos federal y estatal, academia y OSC. Quienes desarrollaron un plan de trabajo para cumplir con las recomendaciones de mejoras como resultado de la preevaluación del MSC, para lograr un estatus de pesquería sostenible para fines de 2027.

FIP Description 

The Mexico Baja California North Pacific red sea urchin - diver-caught FIP is being implemented to obtain the certification for MSC Fisheries Standard.

FIP Objective(s) 

Improve key aspects of the red sea urchin fishery in Baja California to achieve an adequate level of sustainability, allowing for MSC certification by December 2027

By the project's target end date, the FIP aims to achieve the following:

  • Improve the sustainability of the Red Sea Urchin fishery by ensuring all Performance Indicators (PIs) reach a score of at least 60, with the Overall BMT Index achieving 0.8 or higher by December 2027.
  • Protect the biomass and promote sustainable stock exploitation by developing and implementing a robust Harvest Strategy, including Harvest Control Rules (HCR), an effective Information and Monitoring System, and periodic assessments of stock status by December 2027.
  • Build capacity and promote collaboration by organizing training programs, strengthening cooperation among cooperatives, organizations, and institutions, and establishing a consultative committee for the fishery by December 2026.
  • Enhance market incentives and improve the fishery value chain by promoting good practices throughout the production chain, leveraging market tools and incentives such as fair trade business models and engaging buyers committed to sustainable fishing by December 2027.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2020
December 2027
Update 
The current situation in Baja California has created challenges for the fishing sector, affecting the continuity of activities and the implementation of work plans. Factors such as the social and political context, as well as changes in government administration, have slowed down agreements and the participation of key stakeholders in the sector. These elements have required the adoption of precautionary measures to ensure safety and the proper development of planned activities.
Next Progress Report Due 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Red Sea Urchin
Scientific Name
Mesocentrotus franciscanus
Gear Type 
Diver-Caught
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 77 (Pacific, Eastern Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Mexico
Geographic Scope 
Baja California state west coast
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
198 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
789 metric tons
Landings Date 
August 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2020
32% 68%
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 2027
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Pronatura Noroeste A.C.
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Laura Ibarra
Email 
libarra@pronatura-noroeste.org
Phone 
+52 646 128 2459
Website Name 
Pronatura Noroeste
Organization Name 
CONAPESCA
Organization Type 
Other
Primary Contact 
Tania Nassar
Email 
tania.nassar@conapesca.gob.mx
Website Name 
CONAPESCA
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.
12947