October 20, 2010

Mexican shrimp exports to US seen to rake in US$340 million

Following the recertification of Mexican exports of wild shrimp to the US, shipments of the crustacean to that market are estimated to generate an income of US$340 million.

The US government announced the favourable decision after verifying that shrimp boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific meet the set requirements to protect sea turtles. It is expected that exports to the US market will resume next week, upon completion of the notification of customs.

The checks carried out by inspectors from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were "100% satisfactory", due to the use of devices for the exclusion of sea turtles (TED) in shrimp fishing at sea.

The head of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca), Ramon Corral Avila added that in addition to the continuation of exports of Mexican shrimp to America, they wish to diversify the crustacean markets and sell it in other countries. Currently, Mexico sends shrimp to the America, France, China and Japan.

Meanwhile, the director general for North America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), Alejandro Estivill Castro, stressed that the coordination between the government and the private sector allowed them to meet their goal of re-entering the Mexican shrimp into the US market.

Recertification was achieved through the combined efforts of Conapesca, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) of the Secretariat of Marine Armada, the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and shrimp producers.