Fish farmer gets green light to sell totoaba meat abroad
A Mexico-based fish farmer has obtained approval for international trade of farmed totoaba, a fish threatened in the wild because of man-made changes to its breeding area and poaching.
The majority decision by the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will allow Earth Ocean Farms (EOF) international trade in totoaba meat, but not in swim bladders.
Totoaba swim bladders are used in traditional medicines in China and can fetch up to £15,000 each on the black market. Many people believe they can cure ailments such as arthritis.
Stock enhancement
EOF is a vertically integrated fish farmer located in La Paz, on the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. It produces totoaba and Pacific snapper in submersible cages two miles offshore at a site 31 miles north of La Paz, and until now has only been able to sell totoaba in Mexico.
As well as commercial production, it releases thousands of hatchery-raised totoaba into the sea every year in an effort to boost wild populations.
Welcoming the CITES decision, EOF chief executive Pablo Konietzko said: “Aquaculture is a method to ensure the non-extinction of the totoaba. At EOF we have complied with all the requirements requested by the Convention. The CITES decision allows us to consolidate the regional economy of the Baja California peninsula, boosting an important international market with a sustainable approach.
150,000 juveniles
“In addition, it opens the door to other Wildlife Conservation Units (UMA) that comply with the requirements requested. EOF is part of the solution for the conservation of the species. We support their repopulation and have released close to 150,000 juvenile totoabas in the Sea of Cortés and studies have proven that the released individuals have managed to survive.”
CITES members such as Brazil, Canada, Indonesia and Kuwait pointed out that the application of EOF solved the requirements and observations of other members on traceability and risk reduction by concentrating only on meat, and therefore supported Mexico’s proposal to register EOF for international trade.
Swim bladders
CITES members indicated that the issue of illegal trade in totoaba swim bladders and the legal trade in meat from aquaculture farms should be evaluated independently. EOF said that although they are related issues, by eliminating totoaba swim bladders, Mexico and EOF were demonstrating their commitment to sustainable and fully traceable trade, separated from the illegally demanded product.
EOF added that the international trade approval is interpreted as an important step for Mexico, strengthening the conservation strategy through the sustainable farming of marine species.
“After four years of constructive dialogue, we are proud to be part of the solution and contribute to the construction of a legal alternative to international trade, promoting the conservation of the species,” said Konietzko.
“In addition, EOF has corporate social responsibility practices through which it will promote the projects of NGOs focused on the economic and social development of the communities of the Upper Gulf.”
