The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa) announced the start of the fishing season for several shrimp species in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

According to the new regulations published in the Official Journal of the Federation, the measure includes among others the seabob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) and the pink one (Farfantepenaeus duorarum).

The ban on pink shrimp in the marine area of Campeche started on 15 June.

The new agreement complements the measure published on 30 April, 2013, which indicated that the ban end date for the marine area of Campeche (from the mouth of the Rio Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, to the meridian 87°00 ‘west longitude, except for Contoy fisheries and the marine waters of the coastal strip opposite the states of Campeche and Tabasco) would be subject to the results of research by the National Fisheries Institute (Inapesca).

This decision of the Mexican government arises from the analysis process and the consensus of the information presented by Inapesca experts, derived from the latest surveys on the pink shrimp populations carried out in the marine area of Campeche.

It is expected that the start of the capture season can offer economic benefit to fishermen in the area.

This authorization will make it possible to catch specimens being 140 mm in total length or larger.

The seabob shrimp can be captured by smaller-scale vessels, in marine waters and lagoon systems from the mouth of the river Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, to the border with Belize, except for Contoy fisheries and marine waters of the coastal front opposite Campeche and Tabasco.

The main capture areas are located in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Tamaulipas and Veracruz), Sonda de Campeche (Tabasco and Campeche) and the Mexican Caribbean (Quintana Roo, Contoy area).

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