Fisheries & Marine Life

 

U.S. To Close Gulf Ports To Mexican Fishing Boats Due To Poaching. According to Politico, “The U.S. government will prevent Mexican fishing vessels from entering U.S. ports on the Gulf of Mexico, arguing the Mexican government has not done enough to prevent its boats from illegally fishing in U.S. waters. Starting Feb. 7, Mexican fishing boats in the Gulf ‘are prohibited from entering U.S. ports, will be denied port access and services,’ NOAA wrote in a report made public yesterday. The move caps a yearslong problem with U.S. efforts to protect valuable red snapper stocks along its Gulf shores. Small Mexican boats frequently use prohibited long lines or nets to haul in snapper in U.S. waters and then sometimes apparently even sell it back to U.S. customers. Such nets and lines can indiscriminately trap marine life. The NOAA report slammed Mexico for ‘its continued failure to combat unauthorized fishing activities by small hulled vessels (called lanchas) in U.S. waters.’ ‘The United States is committed to working with the Government of Mexico to support its actions to address the issues identified in 2019 and 2021, and is ready to re-establish U.S. port privileges for Mexican fishing vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico once actions are taken by Mexico,’ according to the report.” [Politico, 1/13/22 (=)]

 

 

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