Fishing in Mexico During Lent

Mexico is a country with a fishing vocation. It has 11,122 kilometers of coastlines, 6,500 km² of inland waters, and a total of 68 ports. Currently, the volume of fish production is 2.1 million tons, which translates into a national production value equivalent to 38 billion pesos. Thus, the fishing and aquaculture sector in Mexico generates more than 300,000 direct jobs and 2 million indirect jobs. 25% of the national fish and aquaculture production is certified as sustainable, placing Mexico at the forefront of Latin America in this area and ranked 12th globally. Additionally, there are more than 54 official Mexican standards related to responsible fishing, food safety, health, and the environment.Mexico has a fishing vocation, regulations, and a well-established and organized community around our coastlines; however, our consumption of fishery products is below the global average, between 13 and 14 kilograms per capita per year. This Lent season, which runs from February 17 to April 3, let’s consume Mexican fish and seafood. Let’s learn about the species from our waters, their closed seasons, the cooperatives or companies that operate responsibly, and promote #FishingWithFuture in Mexico. The main species of fish and seafood produced in the country are sardine, shrimp, mojarra, octopus, anchoveta, and tuna, but we have 589 commercial species in Mexico. As Luis Bourillón, Vice President of Sustainability at COMEPESCA, states, “if we want to have a future for the planet, we must worry not only about nutritional values but also about how to keep this sector alive in the coming years. It is essential to comply with fishing sizes, closed seasons, the volumes that can be caught, and that consumers have real information, validated by independent entities, indicating whether the species is sustainable or on its way to obtaining certification.” Therefore, the culture of eco-labeling among Mexican consumers is also of vital importance to know which products have been obtained through responsible practices. The best part of consuming fish and seafood is that they are a rich source of nutrients, allowing us to strengthen the immune system with proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fats. This Lent, don’t think twice and consume Mexican fish and seafood! Source: Mexican Council for the Promotion of Fishery and Aquaculture Products (Comepesca)