The U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery, encompassing all five Gulf states and federal waters, has become the first shrimp fishery to earn Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification.

What is RFM Certification?

RFM Certification is a third-party evaluation that assesses fisheries in four key areas: fisheries management systems, science and stock assessment activities, management measures, and ecosystem impacts. The certification is awarded by Global Trust, a third-party certification body.

Mark Fina, Chair of the CSC RFM Board, praised the achievement, stating, “Congratulations to ASPA and the Gulf of Mexico shrimp industry for meeting RFM’s comprehensive fishery standard. This is a testament to their sound fisheries management and commitment to sustainability.”

Industry Impact

Trey Pearson, ASPA Board President, emphasized the significance of RFM Certification, saying, “We are proud to achieve RFM Certification. This reflects our harvesters’ practices on the water and their work to ensure our shrimp is sustainably harvested. We are excited about the ability to highlight the USA origin with the RFM eco-label, which matters not only to us but also to our customers and consumers of Gulf Shrimp.”

Achieving RFM Certification was the culmination of years of collaboration among industry stakeholders, including management agencies, NGOs, and industry-led Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). For 15 years, FIPs worked to implement changes needed to prepare the fishery for RFM Certification.