Mexico Marismas Nacionales artisanal whiteleg shrimp - trap/cast-nets

Mexico's Pacific Coast shrimp fishery is one of the country's most important fisheries. It is first in terms of the commercial value of the harvest from the industrial and small-scale fleets, and generates the most jobs directly and indirectly (approximately 37,000) (SAGARPA, 2013). Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve (MNBR) located in the state of Nayarit is the largest (~130,000 hectares) and most productive coastal wetland in the Mexican Pacific and represents 15% of the country's mangrove coverage (SEMARNAT-CONANP 2013).

Approximately 20 small-scale cooperatives hold permits and/or concessions to fish in 15 different areas in MNBR. Fishing activities are the main source of food and livelihood for local communities. The most important commercial species is the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), with an average annual production of approximately 3,538 tons, during the fishing season which runs from September through March (Chavez-Herrera et al., 2020). This FIP will begin with the participation of two of the larger cooperatives, but other cooperatives will be invited to join as the benefits from engaging in the FIP become evident. The participating cooperatives - SCPP Ignlogar, and SCPP Llano del Tigre - include over 440 members and land over 500 tons of whiteleg shrimp per season. Each of these cooperatives has a concession with multiple fishing areas where
they use two fishing gear types of fishing: cast nets and a trap style called "tapos", which are semi-fixed structures made with mangrove branches that enclose and concentrate shrimp and other species in a lagoon or estuary. Some of the cooperatives have repopulation and mangrove restoration areas, reflecting their commitment to improving their ecosystem. The two cooperatives have recorded significant decreases in their shrimp catch over the last three years and they recognize the need for better management and harvest practices.

Although the whiteleg shrimp fishery has a modified escapement strategy, seasonal closures and monitoring programs, the most recent data shows a decreasing trend in catch levels (INAPESCA, 2018; INAPESCA, 2019). This indicates a need to strengthen data collection and the harvest strategy or have additional management measures in place. Therefore, the FIP aims to generate more information on the fishery and the ecosystem, reduce environmental deterioration, and transition towards responsible shrimp fishing practices that add value to the product and provide more benefits to communities. Much of the shrimp harvested by the cooperatives is directed to the informal, dehydrated shrimp market which adds very little value to the harvest. As
part of the FIP activities, the cooperatives will receive support to transition to more formal market segments that value their fishery management efforts.