Certifier : 
SCS Global Services
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
14 Oct 2016
Certificate expires : 
14 Apr 2027

Overview

Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.

When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • Certified
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-1179 Thread herrings nei (Opisthonema spp) Surrounding Nets - With purse lines (purse seines) 77 (Pacific, Eastern Central) MSC-F-31538 MSC-F-31612

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Thread herrings nei (Opisthonema spp) 2023 82,878.9

Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.

Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists

A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.

Documents Published on Files
Vessel List 03 Nov 2016 1 files

About this Fishery

Seven licensed vessels operate in this Mexican fishery – in the waters of the states of Sinaloa and Nayarit – targeting three similar kinds of thread herring (Opisthonema libertate, Opisthonema bulleri and Opisthonema medirastre). 

Thread herring grow to a length of 20 to 30cm. They form dense schools on the surface, feeding mostly on zooplankton. The fleet uses purse seines to catch them, an activity it pursues for 10 months each year.

Three Mexican government agencies help manage the fishery, which brings in a little more than a third of Mexico’s total thread herring landings. Regulations regarding entry to the fishery, gear restrictions, protection of sensitive species, and area closures all contribute to the sustainability of the stocks.

“In recent years, we have taken our products to many countries and different industries, and have found consumers are increasingly concerned about the origin and sustainability of the products they are buying. In order to ensure our product is traceable and sustainable, Maz Sardina decided to enter the thread herring fishery into the MSC assessment process. In the Gulf of California there is already one certified fishery and another in the assessment process, and it is a source of pride for the entire Mexican fishing industry that we are making the effort to achieve this certification.”

- Armando Coppel Azcona, General Director of Maz Sardina S.A. de C.V. (assessment client)