1. Sustainable Fishing in
Mexico
Can the current level of fishing in the country of Mexico
be sustained at past and current levels?
Nick Marabeas

2. Introduction
• Population: 114,975,000 Facts About Mexico
• Size: 716,606 sqare miles
• Located in North
America, south of The
United States of America.
Bordered by the Pacific
Ocean and the Gulf of
Mexico
• 268,727 people employed
by fisheries and
aquaculture
• Fisheries account for 0.8%
of the GDP (2001)
• 1.2 million tons of fish
caught for human

3. Sustainability
of Fishing in Mexico
 Before
1960, shrimp, tuna and
other high-value fish
was 50% of the total
fish capture.
 This amounted to
200,000 metric tons of
fish per year (mt/year)
 Since then, the amount
has risen to 1,400,000
mt/year

4. This Is Not Sustainable
Current levels of fishing
and other factors are
depleting the fisheries
off the coast of Mexico
both in the Gulf of
California and the Gulf
of Mexico.

5. Fishery Locations
 Fisheries are located mainly
in the Pacific Ocean and in
the Gulf of California
 Small fishing ships and
semi-industrial fleets
account for most of the
fishing catch
 About 7% of the total
fisheries are inland

6. Gulf of Mexico
 The Gulf of Mexico has
become so depleted of
commercial fishing
resources that the
Mexican government
does not consider this a
viable economic
resource.
 The BP oil disaster has
contributed to this
already serious problem.

7. Local Markets
 Fisheries have a greater
importance to the local
communities than the
national or international
market
 Over 68% of the fish
caught by Mexican
fishermen are for local
market sales.
 Almost 100% of the fish
caught by foreign
fishing fleets within
Mexican waters leave
Mexico.

8. Effects of Overfishing
 Although the data on
this chart is from 1939, it
highlights the effects of
overfishing in the region.
This problem has been
ongoing for the past 100
years and continues the
need to be addressed
 Although the fishing
industry accounts for
only 0.8% of the GDP,
current trends see this
amount diminishing
over time

9. Other Contributing Factors
In addition to overfishing, other factors
that are contributing to the problem
 Poor management
 Increased recreational use
 Pollution Declining food supplies
and oxygen-depleted zones
are causing dolphins,
fish, and other wildlife
to die in the Gulf of
Mexico and surrounding
areas.

10. Restoring the Fishing
Industry
A comprehensive restoration plan is needed
to restore sustainability
 Effective governing of the area
 Public involvement
 Adequate funding
 Monitoring progress to make sure
the plan is followed

11. Top Priorities
 Protecting, restoring, and enhancing the shoreline
 This is the home to shrimp, which supplies the fishing industry as
well as food for other ocean species
 Maintaining healthy, sustainable fisheries
 Restore the populations and manage the usage
 Maintaining coastal and marine habitats
 Home to oyster beds, this supplies food to the habitat and fishing
resources
 Reducing the ‘Dead Zone’
 Excess nutrients have depleted the oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico.
Plans to provide buffer zones in the Mississippi watershed would
aid in this problem
 Monitoring the ecosystem

12. Summary & Conclusion
 The fishing areas surrounding Mexico are not
currently sustainable for a variety of reasons.
 Overfishing and pollution are main factors
 If the fishing industry is to become sustainable
again, the region must be repopulated with native
species and the habitats restored to habitable
conditions.
 Once this has happened, the industry must be
monitored to ensure proper sustainability.

13. References
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
April 1, 2012.< http://www.fao.org/fi/oldsite/FCP/en/MEX/profile.htm >
Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, April 1, 2012. Mexico,
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html >
Calisphere, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 1939. The Fishes of the Family Scianidae of
California. Accessed April 1, 2012.
<http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt0d5n97jz&brand=calisphere&doc.view=entire_text >
Ocean Conservancy, Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Restoration: Rebuilding a National Treasure. Accessed April 1,
2012. < http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/fisheries/ >