August 12, 2010

Mexico to regulate shrimp farms

The Mexican government is working with the shrimp sector to regulate the country's shrimp farms in order to increase aquaculture activity, said Carlos Carrillo Santana, federal delegate from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).

"We do not believe that we will be able to increase aquaculture activities in Nayarit, if we do not regulate what we already have," said the official.

Santana Carrillo met with officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) to try to find alternatives to solve the regularisation of the shrimp industry.

The delegate also noted that farmed shrimp production in Nayarit is greater than in the estuaries, where they are captured naturally.

It is therefore necessary to regulate all fish farms in the state, since 80% of the farms lack the necessary permits to legally carry out the activity.

The local Deputy of Fisheries, Abelino Ortiz Márquez, said that during the meeting, they evaluated and revised the terms of reference to regulate farms in the Valle de la Urraca.

Attendees stated that they intended to obtain initial support of MXN376,300 (US$ 29,700) for a study on how to regionalise the system and prevent any damage to the environment in Valle de la Urraca.

Ortiz Marquez explained that there are 169 farms in Nayarit, of which 99 are already regulated. During the first stage, they will adjust 42 farms, 36 in Valle de la Urraca and six in the area of Tecuala.