On August 25, 2024, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) granted the Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) to the Mayan octopus from the Yucatan Peninsula, making it the first Mexican fishery considered a national asset. Experts say that the badge will enhance the sustainability and value of the product in the markets.
Mayan octopus products with a PGI have characteristics attributed to their geographical origin. Therefore, Octopus Maya fishing can only be carried out on the continental shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula.
This mollusk is found in this region of Mexico and is one of the most important octopus fisheries in the world with approximately 30 thousand tons of annual production.
Obtaining the Protected Geographic Indication
The Mayan octopus fishery obtained the Protected Geographical Indication thanks to a joint effort of various cooperatives, businessmen and government entities.
José Luis Carrillo Galaz, president of the Mexican Confederation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Cooperatives (Conmecoop), has been working within cooperatives for more than 45 years and was part of the technical committee that drafted the decree and the proposal.
“I was part of the technical committee for drafting the decree and the proposal, and it was not specifically the cooperatives that made a proposal, in general it was the entire sector surrounding the octopus fishery that made it, both cooperatives and businessmen, as well as government institutions, which regulate this activity, we made the proposal,” explained Carrillo Galaz.
This process included the preparation of a technical proposal that was presented on December 8 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to IMPI, through the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (Imipas), and was approved on August 25 by IMPI.
Raúl Aarón Rosado Castillo is director of sustainable finance at the company HulKin S.A. de C.V. His company has been exporting fish and seafood since 1986. They are currently leaders in the Mayan octopus sustainability project and export to 15 countries.
“This initiative includes Mayan octopus as an emblematic product of the country, accompanied by tequila, mezcal and honey, generating an important proposal for the international consumer and in this case, recognizing the Mayan octopus from the Yucatan Peninsula as a product that currently meets certain considerations,” said Aarón Rosado.
Mayan octopus example of sustainable fishing
The Geographic Indication of Mayan octopus represents an important milestone for the sustainability of fishing in Mexico, since it promotes responsible practices and shows itself in recognition of the quality of the product in the international market.
To obtain the IGP of the Maya octopus, it was essential to first have sustainable management of the species and, once the indication was obtained, to maintain it over time so as not to lose it.
“This gives us greater responsibility since taking care of this certification means avoiding activities or acts that go against the same resource, such as prohibited fishing gear, illegal fishing, unfair trade,” said José Luis Carrillo.
Octopus Maya is caught using techniques such as gareteo and jimba, which are recognized for their lower environmental impact and their ability to preserve biodiversity, promoted by the civil association Alianza por el Octopus de Yucatán.
The crawling technique consists of placing two bamboo sticks called jimbas, between four and five meters high, to which 16 strings are tied to which the bait (crab and spider crab) is tied.
Fishing shelters such as Celestún help protect the breeding areas of the Mayan octopus, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the species.
These practices improve the quality and value of their product, as well as contribute to the conservation of the environment and to the sustainability of fishing in the region.
“In addition, this initiative not only benefits fishermen, but also seeks to generate an economic impact that positively impacts the local community,” said Rosado.
FIP and traceability
Yucatan octopus fisherman. Photo: Government of Mexico.
Among the economic benefits of the IGP of Mayan octopus are: recognition of quality, similar to other emblematic products such as tequila and mezcal, increasing their market value; access to new, larger and more lucrative markets; better prices, since the demand for sustainable and quality products can allow fishermen to charge higher prices for their product, improving their profitability, Rosado enlisted.
The Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) and cooperatives play a crucial role in organizing and promoting sustainable fishing for Mayan octopus.
The association Alliance For The Octopus In Yucatán, promoted by the FIP, supports producers in the transition to sustainable fishing practices, which in turn strengthens the IGP proposal and ensures that more fishermen adopt responsible methods.
The FIP seeks certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which guarantees that Mayan octopus products are caught in a sustainable manner.
This is another quality standard, recognized in Europe, which would allow them to have greater access to the European market.
“There are areas of opportunity to develop identification so that we can know which is a sustainable product and which is not. In this case, in Europe. Currently, the FIP Octopus Initiative aspires to MSC Certification, which is the Marine Stewardship Council, which seeks a brand that in turn certifies that the products that are caught under that certification comply with a series of chains of custody, which ensure that the product was captured in a sustainable way,” Rosado explained.
The traceability of Mayan octopus is crucial for those who market and consume it, who know where it comes from and under what conditions it was obtained. It also guarantees that the octopus sold is sustainable and comes from responsible sources.
“Product traceability is a key aspect, allowing consumers to know the origin of the octopus they consume, which helps combat illegal and uncontrolled fishing,” Rosado explained.
This tracking chain also seeks consumer awareness.
An example of traceability is the company HulKin where each species that is marketed has a distinctive seal that identifies the name of the species, its origin, its size, weight, area of capture, method of capture, production, packaging, suggested date for consumption, the batch and its health record.
“When we talk about a fishery with a Geographical Indication already certified by the IMPI, it will give us added value to the same product and that it will also allow us to have a unique identification, thus avoiding the cloning of any octopus that, due to bad practices in other countries, put Mayan octopus and also the issue of aquaculture, tomorrow they want to cultivate Mayan octopus without the authorization of producers and the Mexican government,” explained the director of sustainable finance of the company HulKin S.A. of C.V.
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