Mexico has successfully obtained certification from the United States, allowing the export of shrimp to the country. This certification is issued annually by the US Department of State to ensure that countries exporting shrimp comply with stringent measures designed to prevent the incidental capture of sea turtles during trawl fishing operations.

Verification Visits and Compliance Measures

The certification process involves verification visits abroad by a team composed of representatives from the Department of State and the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These visits assess the effectiveness of the measures taken by the exporting countries to safeguard sea turtles.

In 2021, Mexico faced a significant setback when it failed to obtain the necessary certification, resulting in a six-month ban on shrimp exports to the United States. However, Mexico swiftly responded by implementing an emerging action plan. This plan included enhancing the installation program of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) across its fishing fleet, which ultimately led to the reinstatement of its certification later that same year.

Sustained Certification Success

Following the reinstatement, Mexico has maintained its certification status in both 2022 and 2023. This year, the U.S. State Department revalidated the certification for 37 shrimp-exporting countries, including Mexico. The certification is based on the adoption of regulatory programs that manage the bycatch of sea turtles in a manner comparable to the United States, ensuring that the bycatch rates of these countries’ fishing vessels are on par with those of US vessels.

The Mexican ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma, welcomed the re-certification. “Mexico will be able to continue exporting shrimp to the US, thanks to the endorsement of the annual certification that the State Department has just published,” Moctezuma announced on his social media account, X.