Mexico City - The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CONAPESCA) has published a temporary ban on fishing for all species of shrimp in marine waters under federal jurisdiction on the Pacific Coast, Gulf of California, and all lagoons, estuaries, marshes and bays in the states of Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima, beginning at 8:00 am on March 15, 2019.

In a statement, the agency explained that the purpose of the ban is to protect the period of reproduction and maturation of shrimp populations, which are of particular economic and social importance to Pacific Coast fishing communities.

Sampling conducted by the National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) shows that brown shrimp currently present a healthy status, blue shrimp are in a process of recovery, while white shrimp require management measures because, due to overfishing and environmental factors, the population of this species of the crustacean evidences a critical decrease in the density of brood stock that could affect next season's harvest.

After four hours of discussion between authorities and the productive sector, it was determined that the technical recommendations made by INAPESCA were necessary to maintain healthy shrimp production in the next harvest season. So, in accordance with the policies of collaboration to increase and guarantee food production, CONAPESCA established the temporary ban on fishing for all species of shrimp in the Mexican Pacific.

The publication states that CONAPESCA will announce, in advance, the dates of the shrimping ban's completion, which will be determined by further research and biological samples performed by INAPESCA for this purpose.