Mexico Gulf of California Sinaloa chocolate clam and chirla clam - diving & hand gathered

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Overview

In mid-2018, Environmental Defense Fund of Mexico (EDF) and Pronatura Noroeste (PNO) established a FIP for chocolate clams (Megapitaria squalida), in the Lagoon System of Altata-Ensenada del Pabellón, Sinaloa, Mexico. Since 2014, EDF and PNO, in coordination with the federal, state and municipal authorities, academia and fishing sector, have been developing a Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for this Lagoon System, which recommends gathering data on the state of the fishery's health with a focus on defining management tools that help improve the conditions of the bivalve resource. This FIP defines the actions that should be taken to make these improvements and can define better market conditions as well. On November 6, 2018, the FIP held its first workshop, in which 69 people participated, representing the different sectors that are involved with the fishery. A working group was created, whose task was to design a FIP work plan, with actions, specific tasks and responsibilities. The a Minute of Agreements with the working group was signed, which constituted the first step to ensure the commitment of the members of this group and their participation in the FIP.
In 2022, the chirla clam was incorporated into the FIP with the purpose of carrying out the improvements that are being made in the FIP to this species of environmental and economic importance, for which a new assensment and work plan was made.

FIP Description 

In mid-2018, Environmental Defense Fund of Mexico (EDF) and Pronatura Noroeste (PNO) established a FIP for chocolate clams (Megapitaria squalida), in the Lagoon System of Altata-Ensenada del Pabellón, Sinaloa, Mexico.

FIP Objective(s) 

1. Establish a system for assessing the population of chocolate clams and chirla clam, based on adequate and updated information on a permanent basis by December 2025.
2. Consolidate transparent and efficient decision-making mechanisms by December 2021.
3. Identify and minimize the effects on the environment caused by the chocolate clam fishery by June 2021.
4. Create a communication and awareness strategy aimed at tourists, local restaurants, residents and producers about the regulations that apply to the chocolate clam fishery by December 2025.
5. Establish a coordinated marketing mechanism by December 2025.
6. Consolidate the management system of the chocolate clam fishery through organization, fisheries management and regularization of producers by December 2025.

FIP Type 
Basic
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2019
December 2025
Update 
September 2021 Update: The FIP end date was changed to January 2024 because the task 9.2. time frame was extended to January 2024. For more details about this time frame change, please see task 9.2. updates In the present period, it was decided to change the chocolate clam FIP to a multispecific FIP with the purpose of expanding the improvements to the chirla clam fishery, which is of environmental and economic importance for the area.
Last Progress Report Reviewed 
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, March 31, 2023
Species 
Common Name 
Clam spp.
Scientific Name
Megapitaria squalida
Common Name 
Clam spp.
Scientific Name
Chione californiensis
Gear Type 
Diver-Caught
Hand Gathered
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 77 (Pacific, Eastern Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Mexico
Geographic Scope 
Gulf of California, Sinaloa
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
0 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
0 metric tons
Landings Date 
March 2021
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FIP at a Glance

14% 18% 50% 18%
January 01, 2019
11% 32% 32% 25%
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
B Good 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.
Mar 2023
Target End Date
Dec 2025
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Pronatura Noroeste
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Pablo Álvarez
Email 
palvarez@pronatura-noroeste.org
Phone 
+52 1 6461282459
Website Name 
Pronatura Noroeste
Organization Name 
Environmental Defense Fund de Mexico
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Aristo Stavrinaky
Email 
stavrinaky@gmail.com
Phone 
+52 6121232011
Website Name 
EDF
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.
10672