Shrimp
Asaro Matteo Cosimo Vincenzo SRL
Species scientific name: Aristaeomorpha foliacea
FAO area: 37
Fishing method: Trawler
Basic description of the fleet/fishery
Fishery client: ASARO MATTEO COSIMO VINCENZO SRL.
Fishing area: FAO Area 37, GSAs: 20, 21, 23, 26, 24 and 25.
Fishing vessels: Vessels audited on site as fleet samples: 27551; 26786.
Fishing method: Trawler.
Certified species: Scientific name / Common name
Aristaeomorpha foliacea / Giant red shrimp
Management summary
In Italy, the fishery policy is implemented through the Directorate General for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF) and by the Directorate for Fisheries of the regional administrations, with the support of services provided by decentralized offices (Marine Coastal Guard). The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is the regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) that has the authority to adopt binding recommendations for fisheries conservation and management in its area of application and plays a critical role in fisheries governance in the region.
Stock status summary
According to GFCM, the Giant red shrimp fishing is conducted with about 800m deep, while the stock is spread to a depth of 1200m. This ensures a protected area with a homogeneous stock not fished. In addition, Stockmed project results show stock homogeneity. Based on this information, and taking into account the fishery data of the certification unit, the auditor concluded that the stock is not overfished and overexploited.
Bycatch / discards
The most common bycatch species is the Hake (Merluccius merluccius), classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red list. All bycatches and discards are recorded in the logbook. The level of discards is less than 5%.
Habitat Impact
All vessels are equipped with Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and the fleet complies with the rules on Marine Protected Areas. Fishing occurs from 50-70 miles from the coast and, in the case of islands, with 6 miles minimum distance. Bottom trawling is conducted in authorized areas, with a muddy seabed and at 800 meters depth, so that the impact on the seabed is considered minimal.
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and Italian labour regulations.
Conclusion with reasons for approval
The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without any major non-conformity.
A Raptis & Son
Species scientific name: Fenneropenaeus merguiensis
FAO area: 71
Fishing method: Midwater trawl
Australia – Trawler – Fenneropenaeus merguiensis – FAO 71 (Pacific, Western Central)
Fishery client: A. Raptis and Sons.
Fishing area: FAO 71, Western Central Pacific Waters; Gulf of Carpentaria.
Fishing vessels: The Company has a fleet of 52 vessels.
Vessel audited on site as fleet sample: 386076.
Fishing method: Trawler.
Certified species: Scientific name: Fenneropenaeus merguiensis;
Common name: Banana prawn.
Management summary
The Australian Fish Monitoring Authority (AFMA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) monitor the fishing grounds in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The fishery is managed according to the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan 1995, which includes limits to the number of vessels and gears, seasonal area closures, permanent area closures, gear restrictions and operational controls.
Stock status summary
The Northern Prawn Fishery for Banana prawns has not been subject to a stock assessment. Nevertheless, AFMA considers the stock sustainable according to a catch per unit effort (CPUE) management plan and its results. The fishery is managed by period and this is based on a CPUE of <425 kg per boat per day. When catches drop below a certain level, the fishery is closed. The Northern Prawn Fishery Industry (NPFI), including members from all stakeholders in the fishery, SCIRO and AFMA, monitors this. The stock is not considered overexploited.
Bycatch / discards
The main bycatch species are mainly forage fish. Bycatch of non-commercial species is very low, but includes some species listed in the IUCN Red list. Nets are towed in areas with sonar activity to determine species composition, greatly reducing the potential for high bycatch volumes. All vessels are required to have bycatch reduction devices including turtle excluders.
Habitat Impact
There is no minimum distance from the shore for fishing. However, there are enclosed areas and seasonal closures. There is no fishing in Marine Protected Areas, as reported on the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) of all vessels. In addition to VMS control, there are vessels that patrol occasionally to avoid illegal fishing. Only a small portion of the seabed in the fishing area is trawled, and it happens only on soft mud, where the banana prawns live.
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and Australian labour regulations.
Conclusion with reasons for approval
Despite of minor non-conformities (concerns related to the species in the IUCN Red list and the vessels’ refrigeration systems), the fleet complied with Friend of the Sea requirements. The procedure of non-conformity was closed when the company sent documents showing that the irregularities pointed out by the auditor were being corrected.
Atlantic Shrimpers Ltd
Species scientific name: Penaeus monodon
FAO area: 34
Fishing method: Midwater trawl
Basic description of the fleet/fishery
Fishery client: Atlantic Shrimpers Limited
Fishing area: FAO 34
Fishing vessels: STAR SHRIMPERS XXVII, STAR SHRIMPERS XV, STAR SHRIMPERS XXV, STAR SHRIMPERS XIX, STAR SHRIMPERS X, QUEEN AMINA, STAR SHRIMPERS XX, MADAM TINUBU, STAR SHRIMPERS XXVI
Fishing method: Shrimp Trawling
Certified species: Scientific name / Common name
Penaeus monodon/ Wild tiger shrimp
Management summary
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research conduct studies about shrimp fisheries.
A working group of the FAO-organized Fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) convenes to assess and discuss demersal species in the CECAF south region.
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) conduct a continuous check to the fishery.
Stock status summary
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research conduct studies about shrimp fisheries, as general precautionary advice for the costal shrimp in Nigeria, FAO recommends not providing more fishing licenses until more knowledge about their status is available.
This advice doesn’t specifically consider P. monodon’s status as an introduced species. however, and any potential control of this species will be complicated by the likely mixed-species nature of the fishery.
No assessment is known to be conducted of Nigerian coastal shrimp species (FAO, 2011).
A working group of the FAO organized fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic asses and discuss demersal species, but data is insufficient to allow an assessment or the identification of a trend.
A preliminary evaluation of the status of Giant tiger Prawn in Nigeria water was reported by AP Marine Environmental Consultancy LTD in December 2018.
Bycatch / discards
All by-catch, and discards are recoded on the log book; trawling is prohibited within 5nm of the continental Shelf to protect the nursery ground and to reduce conflict between artisanal and industrial fisheries, and in water shallower than 18 mt. The codend should have more than 44 mm of mesh size. Trawling method always give the possibility to release live animal with a high chance of survival.
In the bycatch there are no species listed in IUCN red list.
Habitat Impact
The fishing method used by the company’s vessel is shrimp trawling, that method had no negative impact on the sea bed.
Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and International labor regulations.
Conclusion with reasons for approval
The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without any major non-conformity.