PROSPECTIVE Mexico Baja California Peninsula octopus spp – trap

In Mexico, the octopus fishery is one of the most important, ranking third worldwide in production (FAO 2023). 10% of octopus production comes from the Mexican Pacific where nine species of octopus are reported (López-Uriarte et al., 2005), although only three contribute significantly to commercial capture: Octopus hubbsorum, O. bimaculatus, and O. bimaculoides (CONAPESCA 2023).
The octopus fishery in the Mexican Pacific is carried out artisanally, using small fleets (<15 meters in length). The fishing gear used is traps, such as galvanized steel cages, which makes it a highly selective fishery in the fishing sector in Mexico.
The octopus fishery is of great commercial importance to the communities of the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula, as the annual catch is approximately 124 tons (DOF, 2023). The green octopus (O. hubbsorum) and the brown octopus (O. bimaculatus) are the most commonly caught species along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula, however, the contribution of each species to the total catch is not known, and therefore their populations and distribution cannot be assessed (CONAPESCA 2023).
This octopus FIP, which represents the first of its kind on the west coast of the Mexican Pacific, therefore, has as its main objective, to promote the responsible use of the octopus population, improving the sustainability of fishing practices and ensuring long-term economic benefits for fishing communities, through access to global markets interested in high-quality and responsibly sourced octopus.

FIP Objective (s)

By the end of 2030, this FIP will work towards completing the following objectives:

1- Implement a biological-fishery monitoring system that allows for improving UoA data and monitoring the interactions of the octopus fishery with ETP species and bycatch.

2- Improve fishing practices and product management (e.g. traceability, production process improvements, etc.), with the aim of adding value to the octopus’s fishery and accessing preferential (better-paid) markets that value sustainability.

3- Ensure that the fishery octopus in Peninsula Baja California is managed consistent with ecosystem requirements and respective MSC standards.

4- Set the groundwork for the cooperatives to obtain the Fair-Trade Certification.