Common Name
Scallop spp.
Scientific Name
Atrina tuberculosa
The penshell fishery in Sonora began to develop in the 1950s. The interest in this marine resource has been increasing during the last few decades because penshells are considered a seafood delicacy, its price during 2021 on the beach was 29 to 35 USD
Excessive fishing since the 1970s led to a drastic reduction in catch volumes. The local extinction of specific banks hampered the natural recovery of the species. Overexploitation of penshells has occurred mainly due to poor regulation, open access and over-capitalization of fishing effort. To ensure sustainable management of this resource, producers needed to look for alternatives to reverse the crisis that is happening in the fishery. Since 2014, the cooperative Ecopescadores in Bahía de Kino has implemented a “Integrated Management Zone” project for the penshell (Atrina tuberculosa). This project includes tenure through an aquaculture development concession, encompassing an area of 25.91 ha in Kino Bay, Sonora. In addition, the producers defined three fishing management tools that are used within the concession area. The tools are: 1) refuge areas (no-fishing areas) accounting for 30.5% of total area, 2) fishing zone (managed by quotas-MCC) with 32%, and 3) the area of restoration (marine culture) with 37.5%, where larvae will be captured from the environment and penshell growth will occur through farming on the seabed.
The producers wish to implement a Fishery Improvement Project with an enhanced catch and grow fishery (CAG) sistem that reinforces this management zone, brings access to better markets, and improves both fishermen’s lifestyle and scallop stock.
This FIP is going to comprehensive (2022-2026)
| 21% | 57% | 21% |
| 0% |
| Behind | On Track | Complete | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 70% | 0% | 10% |
General Objective
Implement the farming and enhanced fishery approach of penshell Atrina tuberculosa through management strategies of the artisanal penshell fishery with hookah in Bahía de Kino, Sonora, to have a healthy fishery through the implementation of 22 indicators of the sustainable fishing standard MSC, keeping them above 80 by August 2026.
Specific FIP objectives:
Identify if there are effects on the natural substrate by penshell extraction with hookah diving equipment within the UoA. By December 2023, a report will deliver the results of the analysis of videos and fishing logbooks.
Determine if the penshell farming within the UoA could generate a negative effect on the sediment through the increase in biodeposition of organic matter. Systematic sediment samples, it will be evaluated if there is accumulation of organic matter in the UoA. By July 2024, there will be a baseline of the conditions of the UoA, subsequently, every two years it will be evaluated to identify if there are significant changes that could modify the community structure of the ecosystem.
To avoid competition for food within the UoA, the FIP will determine the availability of food through an annual cycle to determine if there is enough availability to avoid competition between the penshell and other filtering organisms found in the UoA. By April 2024, final results will be obtained in a technical report. Continuous monitoring will also be carried out on the physical-chemical parameters of the water in the sea at the UoA during the growing cycles.
Develop a strategic management plan for farming sustainable and aproach for penshell, incorporating the fishing management tools, current fishing regulations. This management instrument will be prepared in conjunction with the fishers and will be applied as of May 2024. In addition, work will be done to promote with fishing authorities the design of a specific management plan for the species in the commercial fishing area for penshell in Bahía de Kino.
Generate an effective route for decision-making within the FIP participants, this route will be generated by June 2024.
Achieve an unconditional pass to the MSC standard by August 2026.
Additional objectives
That the Fishermen have a demonstrative model for the sustainable farming and management of the penshell resource.
Decreases fishing effort on natural populations of penshell A. tuberculosa Fishing effort on natural populations decreases
Protect and preserve the habitat of the target species.