Pot/Trap

Overview

Crabs are an important commercial resource in Mexico. Their catch value is among the ten most important in the country. The blue crab in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly in Campeche, is considered a resource that has little information compared to other important economic resources, such as octopus or red grouper, therefore, environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the fishery are unknown. The aim of this project is to update or generate biological and ecological information for the crab fishery,  in order to provide guidance on sustainable harvest.

The Campeche blue crab FIP is looking to engage with industry, government entities and academic institutions to expand the scope and depth of the project. 

Crabs are an important commercial resource in Mexico. Their catch value is among the ten most important in the country. The blue crab in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly in Campeche, is considered a resource that has little information compared to other important economic resources, such as octopus or red grouper, therefore, environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the fishery are unknown. The aim of this project is to update or generate biological and ecological information for the crab fishery,  in order to provide guidance on sustainable harvest.

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Alimentos del Mar de Norte America
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Yesica Hernandez Rubio
Email 
info@bluecrab.com.mx
Website Name 
ALMAR
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.
7561

Overview

In Mexico, one of the most important fisheries for the small-scale fleet is swimming crab. The fishery started during the 1980s and was fully developed by the early 1990s. By 2013, the swimming crab fishery was the 8th highest in production in the Mexican Pacific with ~17,000 t and was the 12th most important in terms of value. 

Baja California Sur is the third largest producer, after Sonora and Sinaloa, with an average of 400 t per year. Crab fishing mainly occurs the coastal lagoons of the western coast of the state. The Magdalena-Almejas lagoon complex is the most important fishing region, contributing to ~76% of the state's production, followed by Ojo de Liebre lagoon (14%) and San Ignacio lagoon (10%) 

The federal regulations for the fishery are listed on the Swimming Crab of the Pacific, the National Fisheries Charter and the Official Mexican Standard for the crab fishery NOM-039-PESC-2003. The standard establishes traps as the only fishing gear allowed in Baja California Sur. Traps specifications, as well as minimum crab size limits, are contained within the regulations. Finally, managers state that the fishery may reach its maximum level and recommends to keep the current level of fishing effort in place. 

In Mexico, one of the most important fisheries for the small-scale fleet is swimming crab. The fishery started during the 1980s and was fully developed by the early 1990s. By 2013, the swimming crab fishery was the 8th highest in production in the Mexican Pacific with ~17,000 t and was the 12th most important in terms of value. 

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Alimentos del Mar de Norte America
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Yesica Hernandez Rubio
Email 
info@bluecrab.com.mx
Organization Name 
Ocean Technology Inc.
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Ed Dixon
Email 
dixon@oceantechnology.com
Website Name 
All Natural brand 100% Real Callinectes Crab
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.
7522

Overview

Reason for Inactivity: The timeline for the UK Crab and Lobster FIP came to an end in April 2023. The final annual review of the FIP indicated that no performance indicator would be expected to fail in an MSC assessment, however there are still activities underway to ensure the fishery demonstrate best practice against the MSC Standard. Demonstrable progress against the majority of the remaining actions is reliant on the delivery of the national Crab and Lobster Fisheries Management Plan by Defra, which is due to be published by the end of 2023. These actions include the implementation of a harvest strategy and harvest control rules, fishery specific objectives and decision making processes. 

Project UK is working towards an environmentally sustainable future for UK fisheries by running Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) on 12 UK fisheries that have been selected by the UK seafood supply chain. They were selected due to their importance for the UK market.

Project UK has been developed in response to the demand from the supply chain, retailers, industry and NGOs. The project will commission an MSC pre-assessment to inform and develop an action plan for each fishery, which will identify improvements.

The UK Western Channel and Celtic Sea: Brown crab and European lobster pot and trap fisheries are comprised of both the inshore and offshore, whereby smaller vessels (mainly under 10m) operate closer to the coast and larger vessels split time between the two marine areas.

Fishery management jurisdiction is organised on two different scales around England. Beyond 6 nautical miles, DEFRA and the MMO are responsible for managing crab fisheries whereas from the coast out to 6 nautical miles, responsibility lies with the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs).

No TACs are set for the Western Channel & Celtic Sea edible crab fishery or the Southwest lobster fishery. 

Total landings of crab were around 8,000t for the areas covered by the Western Channel stock assessment for each of the years 2013-2015, comprising 5,000t from the UK, 2,000t from France, and 1,000t from the Channel Islands.  Landings for the Celtic Sea stock assessment area are estimated at 3,000t, comprising 2,000t from the UK, and 1,000t from Ireland. 

Total landings of lobster have been at between 200t and 300t for the area covered by the Southwest lobster stock unit for each of the years from 2006-2013.

Reason for Inactivity: The timeline for the UK Crab and Lobster FIP came to an end in April 2023. The final annual review of the FIP indicated that no performance indicator would be expected to fail in an MSC assessment, however there are still activities underway to ensure the fishery demonstrate best practice against the MSC Standard. Demonstrable progress against the majority of the remaining actions is reliant on the delivery of the national Crab and Lobster Fisheries Management Plan by Defra, which is due to be published by the end of 2023.

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Facilitated by the Marine Stewardship Council
Primary Contact 
Lisa Bennett
Email 
lisa.bennett@msc.org
Website Name 
Project UK Fisheries Improvements
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.
7459

Overview

The Cooperative Ensenada is located on the west coast of the state of Baja California (BC) and has been active since 1940. Currently, this cooperative has 84 members and 159 people employed in the processing plant (129 men and 30 women) and has two concessions: abalone and red lobster. This cooperative serves the local and global market, under social responsibility (with the members of the Cooperative, their families and the rural community of El Rosario) and a deep commitment to the species they sell, respecting the closures and quotas. Likewise, the members of this cooperative are leaders in the repopulation and conservation programs of banks of particular species, operating with an adequate combination of performance and value. The cooperative Ensenada has 3 main fishing fields: Punta Baja, La Lobera and Faro de San Jose.

The Productores Nacionales de Abulón Cooperative has been active since 1936. This fishing cooperative captures fishing resources from clean and rich waters that surround Cedros Island and the San Benito Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, off the Baja California Peninsula.

The cooperative California de San Ignacio was established on April 6, 1939, with an initial register of 45 members. It is located in Bahia Asuncion, Baja California Sur, where they capture and process several marine species among the ocean whitefish captured with handlines. They will participate in the FIP only with this species. Its mission is fundamentally based on teamwork, the best quality in seafood, development and effort by its members and the community, care for the environment; the strengthening of our social organization, activities, and attitudes that are always present in our cooperative society.

The finfish fisheries are multi-specific and use multiple gears the most used are handlines and traps. Two of the most selective fishing gears that have a minimal impact on the habitats where it is used, however, this fishery can target a wide variety of fish, with very different life-history characteristics. The fishers from both cooperatives are aware of the high pressure being exerted to the main species captured Ocean whitefish (C. princeps), California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher), barred sand bass (P. nebulifer), starry rockfish (Sebastes constellatus) and vermilion rockfish (S. miniatus), in the BC peninsula in the last years and they are interested in developing a sustainable fishery to set an example in the region. Commercial harvest for these groups of fishes is conducted in small vessels using different fishing gears, hook and lines with live bait (sardine and mackerel) and traps in open seas and areas near the coast.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of biological and fishery information for this fishery in Mexico. In the National Fishery Chart (INAPESCA, 2010) the above-mentioned species are classified as coastal finfish. This group is composed of a large diversity of species, with different life cycles, including those that inhabit the coast and lagoons up to the border of the external continental shelf which can reach near 200 meters depth. This group is managed without short and long-term species-specific objectives. For this reason, the cooperative Ensenada approached Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A. C. (COBI) to ask for guidance on how to reach international fishery standards, in order to continue with the good practices applied and the sustainable use of the marine resources.

This FIP is going to a Comprehensive (2020-2024).

In 2020, this FIP was aimed at a multi-species fishery, which included five species: whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps), greenfish (Paralabrax nebulifer), sea bass (Semicossyphus pulcher), starfish (Sebastes constellatus) and red rockfish (S. miniatus). However, from November 2024, the FIP will be aimed only at the Ocean whitefish (C. princeps) fishery.

The Cooperative Ensenada is located on the west coast of the state of Baja California (BC) and has been active since 1940. Currently, this cooperative has 84 members and 159 people employed in the processing plant (129 men and 30 women) and has two concessions: abalone and red lobster. This cooperative serves the local and global market, under social responsibility (with the members of the Cooperative, their families and the rural community of El Rosario) and a deep commitment to the species they sell, respecting the closures and quotas.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
December 01, 2017
50% 25% 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
A Advanced 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.
May 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2026
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityEcosystemOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
SmartFish Rescate de Valor, A.C.
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Yuliesky Garces Rodriguez
Email 
yuliesky@smartfishac.org
Phone 
(52) 6121488553
Website Name 
SmartFish Rescate de Valor, A.C.
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.
7305

Overview

The Gulf of California swimming crab FIP started in 2009 under the coordination of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). The FIP coordination and leadership was transferred to the industry in January 2015. All of the activities, improvements, and achievements during that period were reported on SFP’s website and a summary can be downloaded here.

Mexico is the main Latin American country exporting swimming crab products to international markets. Between 2006 and 2013, Mexico exported an annual average of 2.6 thousand metric tons of swimming crab products, with an average value of 22.1 million dollars. During that same period of time, Mexico exported an annual average of 1.1 thousand tons of crabmeat with an average value of 19 million dollars to the US market.

Mexico has an annual average production of 23 thousand metric tons with a beach value of US 17 million dollars and during the past ten years, the fishery has presented an annual growth rate of 3.8%. This ranks the fishery tenth on landings and twelfth on economic value.

The Pacific coast of Mexico produces 63% of the national landings - of that percentage the Gulf of California landings makeup 60%. Sinoloa and Sonora states stand out as the main producers in the country

The swimming crab fishery in the Gulf of California is of great importance to small-scale fishers in the months before and after the shrimp fishery’s peak (September to November). An estimated total of 2,193 small-scale fishing boats, including 4,400 fishers and 139 fishing permits, are active in the Gulf of California.

The fishery is regulated by the Mexican Official Standard NOM-039-PESC-2003, which includes minimum legal size requirements and restrictions on fishing gear (type and number/vessel), egg bearing females, and type of bait. The Standard also controls the total amount of fishing gear in the main production states (70,800 in Sinaloa, 43,600 in Sonora, and 8,000 in Baja California Sur). For the rest of the states (Baja California, Nayarit, and Jalisco) the restriction on fishing gear depends on the technical opinion of the National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA).

Since 2013, there has also been a Fishery Closure which runs from May 1 to July 10 every year to protect reproduction and recruitment. Finally, in 2014 the fisheries authority published the Fishery Management Plan. INAPESCA states the fishery is as at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and recommends against any increase in fishing effort in Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California Sur. There are possibilities of incremental fishing effort for the rest of the Pacific coast states.

 

The Gulf of California swimming crab FIP started in 2009 under the coordination of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). The FIP coordination and leadership was transferred to the industry in January 2015. All of the activities, improvements, and achievements during that period were reported on SFP’s website and a summary can be downloaded here.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
August 01, 2010
43% 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
D Some Past 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
Oct 2025

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Direct Source Seafood
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Robert Stryker
Email 
bob@directsourceseafood.com
Website Name 
Direct Source Seafood
Organization Name 
Alimentos del Mar de Norte America
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Yesica Hernandez
Email 
info@bluecrab.com.mx
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.
6086

Overview

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on China’s seafood sector with exports falling by 8% in 2020. Although the fishery will maintain the management programme put in place thanks to the support of CAPPMA, and the Bureau of Fisheries China, it is with a heavy heart that we inform you that processors, importers and local authorities are not able to commit to support the project beyond June 2021.  

The status of the FIP will therefore be moved to inactive on Fishery Progress until such time we are able to form a client group and implement the final phase of the FIP, and lead the fishery into full MSC assessment. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all FIP participants and stakeholders (in particular, Xiaotong Yu from CAPPMA, Tim Huntingdon from Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management, Jiangsu Baolong Group Co Ltd, Clarus Chu from WWF, Bakkavor, MSC china and Lyons seafoods), involved for their dedicated, hard work.

The fishery is situated in the northern region of China's Jiangsu province, and covers an area of 20,000 hectares along the river and wetland system of the Doulong River. An Action Plan has been developed to identify what improvements are required for the fishery to meet the MSC standard over the next three to five years.

It is a small-scale artisanal fishery, supporting the livelihoods of over 550 local full-time and part-time fishermen and their families in the Dafeng area.  In the long run, this FIP and the MSC certification not only will ensure the sustainability of the fishery, but also secure the livelihoods of these artisanal fishermen.   

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on China’s seafood sector with exports falling by 8% in 2020. Although the fishery will maintain the management programme put in place thanks to the support of CAPPMA, and the Bureau of Fisheries China, it is with a heavy heart that we inform you that processors, importers and local authorities are not able to commit to support the project beyond June 2021.  

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Lyons Seafoods
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Robyn Cloake
Email 
robyn.cloake@labeyrie-fine-foods.com
Phone 
441985224315
Website Name 
Lyons Seafoods Co.
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.
5481

Overview

The organization APRI - whose members include over 36 of 41 seafood industry businesses and processors - covers more than 85% of purchased crab in Indonesia. All members involved are working to promote not only sustainable crab harvest, but a sustainable supply chain as well. The FIP aims to support scientific research through collaborations with Universities, to develop a national Fishery Management plan through a partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and to establish community based fishery management by working with local fishing communities. The FIP is meant to have a lasting impact on the sustainability of the fishery’s supply chain, on blue swimming crab resources, and also on the ecosystem where the species is harvested.

Blue swimming crab (BSC) fishing in Indonesia is mostly carried out by small-scale fishers using boats of less than 10 GT (with or without motors) and in some cases, there are fishermen who do not even use boats to harvest their catch. The crabs are mostly caught using bottom gillnets and collapsible traps. An estimated 90,000 fishermen and 185,000 pickers (who work in over 500 plants or cooking stations throughout Indonesia) are directly employed in the BSC fishery. Several thousand other players are involved in the fishery, including middlemen, processors and those who export BSC products.

The members of APRI (including what day they joined the organization), are as follows:

  • PT Bumi Menara Internusa (6/07/2007)
  • PT Kelola Mina Laut (6/07/2007)
  • PT Mutiara Laut Abadi (6/07/2007)
  • PT Prima Cakrawala Abadi (6/07/2007)
  • PT Phillips Seafoods Indonesia (6/07/2007)
  • PT Pan Putra Samudera (6/07/2007)
  • Handy International, Inc (2/18/2008)
  • PT Toba Surimi Industries (3/30/2011)
  • PT Rex Canning (5/05/2011)
  • PT Grahamakmur Ciptapratama (5/29/2013)
  • PT Sumber Mina Bahari (1/27/2014)
  • PT Muria Bahari Indonesia (2/14/2014)
  • PT Siger Jaya Abadi (3/19/2014)
  • PT Nirwana Segara (8/1/2016)
  • PT Kencana Bintang Terang (16/12/2017)
  • PT Fresh On Time Seafood (20/01/2020)
  • PT Bahari Mulia Utama (01/05/2020)
  • PT Jala Crabindo International (10/01/2022)
  • PT Lampung Bay Seafood (20/01/2023)
  • PT Sumber Kemenangan Sejahtera Abadi (27/02/2024)

The organization APRI - whose members include over 36 of 41 seafood industry businesses and processors - covers more than 85% of purchased crab in Indonesia. All members involved are working to promote not only sustainable crab harvest, but a sustainable supply chain as well. The FIP aims to support scientific research through collaborations with Universities, to develop a national Fishery Management plan through a partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and to establish community based fishery management by working with local fishing communities.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2012
86% 14%
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
A Advanced 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 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2025
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityIUUEcosystemRoundtableOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Asosiasi Pengelolaan Rajungan Indonesia (APRI)
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Ayu Ervinia
Email 
erviniaayu90@gmail.com
Website Name 
http://www.apri.or.id
Organization Name 
Asosiasi Pengelolaan Rajungan Indonesia (APRI)
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Mohamad Bagus Satria
Email 
mohamadbagussatria@yahoo.co.id
Website Name 
http://www.apri.or.id
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.
5081

Overview

The Surat Thani blue swimming crab fishery is an important export product for Thailand with an export value of $60-80 million USD. The unit of assessment is located in the Gulf of Thailand Gulf of Thailand (between 6° and 13.5° North and 99° and 104.5° East). There are a number of critical issues facing this fishery, including the overexploitation of populations in heavily fished inshore areas, harvest of undersized crab and gravid females, lack of management plans or harvest strategies, and lack of enforcement capacity. Through the active involvement of FIP stakeholders - including the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Thai Frozen Food Association (TFFA), Thai Crab Product Group (TCPG) - and FIP participants, the sustainability challenges facing this fishery are being addressed.

The Surat Thani blue swimming crab fishery is an important export product for Thailand with an export value of $60-80 million USD. The unit of assessment is located in the Gulf of Thailand Gulf of Thailand (between 6° and 13.5° North and 99° and 104.5° East). There are a number of critical issues facing this fishery, including the overexploitation of populations in heavily fished inshore areas, harvest of undersized crab and gravid females, lack of management plans or harvest strategies, and lack of enforcement capacity.

FIP at a Glance

View current status
February 01, 2017
86% 14%
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
A Advanced 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 2025
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityRoundtableOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Pramook Takiankam
Email 
tffa2informaiton@gmail.com
Phone 
662 235 5622
Website Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Organization Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Sudarat Ninrat
Email 
maymivmiv@gmail.com
Phone 
662 235 5623
Website Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Organization Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Mr.Thawatchai Poonchauy
Email 
jae0011@viyacrabproducts.co.th
Website Name 
Thai Frozen Foods Association
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.
3146

Overview

The Irish brown crab FIP is an Irish national initiative which covers four geographic areas of certification within the fishery. It is open to all participants around the coasts of Ireland. Two pilot sub FIPs have been set up, one in Area 6 and one in Area 7 as these are treated as distinct areas from a fishery management perspective.

For further information please visit the FIP website.

 

The Irish brown crab FIP is an Irish national initiative which covers four geographic areas of certification within the fishery. It is open to all participants around the coasts of Ireland. Two pilot sub FIPs have been set up, one in Area 6 and one in Area 7 as these are treated as distinct areas from a fishery management perspective.

For further information please visit the FIP website.

 

FIP at a Glance

View current status
December 01, 2016
7% 4% 64% 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 2025
Target End Date
Sep 2027

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Verifact
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Frank Fleming
Email 
info@vfact.com
Phone 
+353214928934
Website Name 
Irish Fishery Improvement Projects
Organization Name 
Verifact
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Mike Fitzpatrick
Email 
mike@vfact.com
Phone 
00353214928934
Website Name 
Irish Fishery Improvement Projects
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.
2936

Overview

Note: This FIP went inactive on February 1, 2019.

Odyssey Enterprises (Seattle) hosts a fishery improvement project (FIP) for Barents Sea crab with a goal to contribute to fishery readiness for MSC certification.  Odyssey Enterprises is a buyer of Russian snow crab and Russian red king crab.  Red king crab graduated the FIP when the fishery became MSC certified in 2018.  Snow crab entered the MSC program in March 2019. 

Snow and red king crab are invasive species in the Barents Sea ecosystem.  The purpose of the FIP was to contribute improvements to help raise the Barents Sea crab fisheries to the MSC standard.  The FIP unit of assessment is the Russian fishery.  The FIP pre-assessment, planning and tracking have also included Norway due to joint management efforts and the two jurisdictions covering the stock in the Barents Sea.  Despite several moving parts between Russian and Norwegian fisheries, and to recent efforts by other countries to access the stocks, rational management of the crab fisheries has been implemented, and with extraordinary progress year on year.

Overview of the Status of the Crab Fisheries in the Barents Sea

Snow crab and red king crab are invasive species in the Barents Sea.  Today these species are harvested commercially in Russia and Norway by vessels utilizing traps (crab pots).  Snow crab and red king crab are designated as sedentary species within their respective economical zones, which means the crab are managed domestically and not inter-governmentally.  The two countries have a history of cooperating on fishery science and management that has resulted in common principles to manage the crab as a new biological resource across their ranges in the Barents Sea.  In Norway, snow crab is fished partly under quota and partly as an invasive species with unrestricted fishing, depending on the location of fishing. In Russia, both species crab are fished within quotas and other harvest control rules and tools that are based on rational harvesting of the stock.  Russia and Norway operate a joint fisheries management agency and continute to share science. Their fleets no longer fish in each others national waters for crab, as they did until 2017, however.

Note: This FIP went inactive on February 1, 2019.

Odyssey Enterprises (Seattle) hosts a fishery improvement project (FIP) for Barents Sea crab with a goal to contribute to fishery readiness for MSC certification.  Odyssey Enterprises is a buyer of Russian snow crab and Russian red king crab.  Red king crab graduated the FIP when the fishery became MSC certified in 2018.  Snow crab entered the MSC program in March 2019. 

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Odyssey Enterprises Inc.
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Meaghen Kraft
Email 
meaghenk@ody.bz
Website Name 
http://www.odysseyenterprisesinc.com/
Organization Name 
Sustainability Incubator Inc.
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Katrina Nakamura
Email 
katrina@sustainability-incubator.com
Website Name 
http://www.sustainability-incubator.com
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.
2711

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