Mexico, with a population of 122 million is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. The country is known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan (Aztec), Chichen Itza (Mayan) and Spanish colonial-era towns are scattered throughout the country.

1. MEXICO
M
exico, with a population
of 122 million is the most
populous Spanish-speaking
country in the world. The
country is known for its
Pacific and Gulf of Mexico
beaches and its diverse
landscape of mountains,
deserts and jungles. Ancient
ruins such as Teotihuacan (Aztec), Chichen Itza (Mayan) and
Spanish colonial-era towns are scattered throughout the country.
Infectious Mariachi music, sombreros and vitamin ‘T’ are
also some of the great highlights. Vitamin ‘T’ includes Tacos,
Tostados, Tamales, Taquitos, Tortas and Tortillas all washed down
with Tequila.
Rather cheekily last year, Mexico offered some US based
aquaculture businesses the opportunity to raise their fish south of
the border where they promised regulaters had a more modern
approach to offshore aquaculture than they could experience in
their own country.
Mexico has recently become serious about aquaculture
Mexico has in the last few years become a serious aquaculture
country and there is a major effort by Mexican offshore fish
farmers and government officials to make their country ‘the
place’ for raising fish offshore in North America.
Aquaculture is supported in Mexico by the Federation through
the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development,
Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) and CONAPESCA. The head
of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries
(CONAPESCA), Mario Aguilar Sánchez has said on many
occasions that boosting aquaculture provides “a great opportunity
to contribute to the growth of the industry, with products having
nutritional and protein quality available to Mexicans,” according
to press reports.
Mexico has indeed gone further than most countries in the
area of seafood consumption and understanding the need for
promotion and marketing and this is assisting the drive/desire for
aquaculture.
In 2012 the National Institute of Statistics and Geography
(INEGI) completed a survey and found that Mexican households
spent monthly 34 percent of their income in food, out of which
8.5 percent was seafood, Of the 31.5 million households that
were surveyed by, on average , only 24.4 percent said that their
food basket are included seafood. The indications at that stage
showed Mexican seafood consumption at around the 9kgs per
person per annum.
Mexico has been mentioned as being in the top three
countries in terms of obesity, and Coneval, the government’s
social development agency, has advised that the poverty rate
is approximately 46.2 percent of Mexico’s population, and
equivalent to 55.3 million people. Coneval defines poverty as
living on no more than 2,542 pesos ($157.70) a month in cities
and 1,615 pesos in rural areas.
by Roy Palmer
POTENTIAL
ABOUNDS
IN
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2. Utilising the survey the Commissioner produced a paper
“Fisheries and aquaculture, and its impact on Mexico’s food
security,” highlighting that in Mexico the fishing and aquaculture
sectors contribute significantly to the development and welfare
of large segments of the population, especially in rural and
regional areas. At present, approximately 25 percent of Mexico’s
population lives rurally.
Following meetings in 2013 and participating in a forum
organised by the FAO , ‘Sustainable Food Systems - A
comprehensive policy on food and nutrition’ the Commissioner
said “Mexico is seeking to increase fish and shellfish
consumption per capita in the next decade. The implementation
by the Government of the new fisheries/aquaculture policy will
enable Mexico to increase per capita consumption of seafood
over the next decade.”
It has been well demonstrated that fish and shellfish are an
important source of nutrients of animal protein and one of the
pillars of the National Crusade Against Hunger, recognised by
CONAPESCA. As a result of the policies and strategies for the
development of aquaculture and fisheries in Mexico, from 2013
to 2018 there is an emphasis on the promotion of consumption of
fishery and aquaculture products.
One of the other important strategies of the SAGARPA/
CONAPESCA is the annual Foro Economico de Pesca y
Acuacultura, which enables industry and government to engage,
discuss and update. These events are usually held in November in
Mexico City and at the last one, which was attended by over 1500
people we learned that consumption has increased to about 13kgs
per person per annum.
Currently Mexico’s most important aquaculture activity is based
in the north west of the country, is based on Shrimp and in 2015
was 110,000 tonnes. Cultivated shrimp now accounts for almost
70 percent of total national production; with the heart of this
transition being the states of Sinaloa and Sonora. The industry
with support of the government is fighting their way back from
disease issues, which have had an impact in many other countries
besides Mexico.
The impact of Early Mortality Syndrome on Mexican
fishing
The disease, Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), ensured that
the production of farmed shrimp dropped sharply between 2012
and 2013, but is now in full recovery and expansion. EMS first
appeared in 2009 in the southern part of China, and then spread
to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. SAGARPA reported that
the disease shows up in the first 20 to 30 days of life of the
shrimp, and especially affects tiger (Penaeus monodon) and white
(Litopenaeus vannamei) shrimp. The disease adversely impacted
thousands of producers, with shrimp mortality rates as high as 98
percent.
The strain of EMS found in Mexico is very similar (but not
identical) to the Asian strain. It is unclear how it arrived in
Mexico and whether or not it was transferred across the Pacific.
CONAPESCA’s figures highlight that Shrimp aquaculture
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3. has a value of more than all of the fisheries of Shrimp, Tuna
and Sardines combined in Mexico. They also point out that the
recovery has been mainly because of the process engaged in
aquaculture. The ponds utilised are emptied and dried for a whole
season, not because of any regulation but because the producers
have initiated improved systems and methods. Additionally the
producers have an excellent program aiming to select strains of
Shrimp more for resistance rather than growth.
The largest potential for aquaculture expansion in
Mexico is Tilapia
Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta, has been in the role of Director
General de Planeación, Programación y Evaluación at
CONAPESCA for the last two years and is very proud of
Mexico’s activities in both fisheries and aquaculture.
“The largest potential for aquaculture expansion in Mexico
is Tilapia in the South; Catfish in the North; Shrimp along all
the coast especially using super intensive systems; Oysters in
Tamaulipas and Baja California and Sea Cucumber in Baja
California and Yucatan. There have been many local species
evaluated for potential growth but no successful culture has been
developed at this stage.” Stated Dr. Antonio Garza de Yta, adding
that
“There is good interest in Yellowtail species and Totoaba
(Totoaba macdonaldi) which is listed on CITES, the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species, and the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) is formerly endemic in the Gulf of California has
some potential to be the ‘Mexican Salmon’ through aquaculture
– fish growth has been measured at 9 grams per day. Within
CONAPESCA our priorities at this stage are to continue to
improve our management measures, zoning and policies for
Aquaculture.” It would be true to say that Mexico has the
potential to produce more than 2 million MTs per annum,
however, in order to achieve that it needs a whole of government
approach to recognise aquaculture as a priority and to include
items such as power tariffs, accessible
electricity and other important infrastructure
issues.
Over the past few years some US based
aquaculture companies have decided to
farm their fish offshore in Mexican waters.
There are good examples in tuna ranching,
sea bass, yellowtail, and hybrid striped bass
which are now farmed in Mexican waters.
What is clear is that Mexico’s government
and private sector are working hand-in-
hand to build an industry that can be an
alternative but time will see if that continues
as and when US offshore fish-farming gets
off the drawing table.
Regal Springs: A 21st Century
Aquaculture Business
Regal Springs’ is what might be termed a
21st century aquaculture business and has
a solid background in both sustainable and
social areas specialising in eco-balanced
Tilapia. One of its newest operations is
nestled in the lush, green hills of Chiapas,
Mexico. The facilities consist of a hatchery,
juvenile fry nursery, floating grow-out cages
and a state of the art production facility.
Lake Penitas, on which the tilapia are raised
in floating cages, boasts pure, fresh water
surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty. Once grown, the fish are
processed in a cutting edge production facility.
The facility is able to accommodate 40-50 metric tons of frozen
storage capacity in addition to fresh processing and custom
cutting. When fully operational, the production facility alone will
employ 850 to 1000 local residents.
Regal Springs are noted for adding value to communities with
whom they engage and they have stated that they are committed
to supporting the Chiapas community, as they have done in
Honduras and Indonesia. Regal Springs also have many projects
in the pipe-line which include supporting the opening of a new
school and pledging support for the Ocote Jungle Biosphere
Reserve.
Framed by the Sierra de las Viente Casas (Twenty Houses of
Sierra) mountain range, it has almost 50 thousand hectares and
was created in 1982 for the preservation of the flora and fauna in
the northern region of the state of Chiapas.
Mexico and the need for capacity and capability
The Blue Economy and along with the recent and various Trade
Agreements are enormous prospects for Mexico and the need
for capacity and capability building is crucial and is a major
challenge. Food Safety and Workplace Health and Safety are
essential elements amongst the main education needs. Without
these important foundations attracting the right investors/
investments will be difficult.
Like with all governments, there is a struggle with changing
from the typical evolution of departments of fisheries to employ
more aquaculture experts who have a broader training than just
capture fisheries but also in aquaculture, in conservation, and in
changing ecosystems. There is need for a new paradigm of the
roles.
Dr. Garza de Yta is confident that Mexico is on the right
pathway but says “There is still much work to be done but the
future for Mexico and Aquaculture is very promising.”
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