At Pronatura Noroeste A.C., we took an important step towards consolidating sustainable fishing in the region by promoting the formal creation of the Assembly of FIP Escama in the Marismas Nacionales Nayarit Biosphere Reserve and south Sinaloa during the eleventh meeting of FIP (Fishery Improvement Project) by Escama, held in Santiago, Ixcuintla.
This new agency represents a significant step towards more participatory, legitimate, and sustainable governance, as for the first time, leadership rests directly with the productive sector, with a fishery cooperative holding the presidency. This strengthens the representativeness, trust, and influence of those who depend directly on the activity.
The Assembly is composed as follows:
- Presidency – Ostricamichin Cooperative Society
- Secretary – Marismas Nacionales Nayarit Biosphere Reserve
- Treasury – Pronatura Noroeste
- Commercial spokesman – Abraham Murillo
- Academic spokesman – National School of Fishery Engineering
- Social spokesman – City Council of Rosamorada, Nayarit
The stakeholders are integrated under a co-responsibility framework that will improve decision-making and ensure the continuity of the process beyond our technical accompaniment. As an organization, we are moving towards a role of strategic facilitation, promoting the stakeholders to lead this agenda.
During the session, we gave continuity to previous agreements and showed progress in 2025, also defining a route of work to two years surrounding three main goals: biological sustainability and fishery management; social and organizational strengthening by the cooperatives, and development of value-added commercial strategies.
Some of the actions undertaken include the promoting of monitoring water quality monitoring systems, strengthening regulatory compliance and communitary oversight, and promoting social security for fishers. We also prioritize training women’s leadership and inclusion of young people as part of the generational transition.
In the commercial field, we are committed to improving product handling practices, strengthening cooperatives, and forging alliances with responsible markets that recognize the value of sustainable fishing.
The formation of this Assembly deems FIP – Escama, as a permanent platform for dialogue, building agreements and solving common challenges.
With this model, we reaffirm the collaboration between sectors is an essential part of moving towards more responsible fishing, with environmental, social, and economic benefits for the communities of Marismas Nacionales, Nayarit.
Translated by: Carmen Arce
Reviewed and edited by: Nicole Fuentes
