Cases / Law, regulation and treaties · Mexico · 2013–2026
NOAA certifications of Mexico for loggerhead bycatch in the Gulf of Ulloa
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NOAA identified Mexico in 2013 for loggerhead bycatch, gave a negative certification in an addendum to its 2015 report, certified Mexico positively on 1 September 2016, and gave a negative certification again in its 2023 report. NOAA states that Mexican vessels in the Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports.
NegativeNOAA certification of Mexico for loggerhead bycatch, 2023 report
NOAA states all Mexican vessels in Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports and port services; its page was updated on 26 June 2026.
NOAA states all Mexican vessels in Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports and port services; its page was updated on 26 June 2026.
Status As of 26 June 2026: NOAA's port-denial notice for Mexican Gulf of Ulloa gillnet vessels remained on its page; no re-certification is recorded.
What?
NOAA identified Mexico for loggerhead bycatch, certified it negatively in 2015 and 2023 and positively in 2016, and bars Mexican vessels in the Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries from US ports. NOAA Fisheries
Where?
Gulf of Ulloa, Baja California Sur, Mexico; NOAA Fisheries, United States. NOAA Fisheries
When?
Identified 2013; negative certification in an addendum to the 2015 report; positive certification 1 September 2016; 2021 report; negative certification in the 2023 report; NOAA page updated 26 June 2026. NOAA Fisheries
Who?
Gained
None on recordLost
- Mexican vessels in the Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries — Barred from US ports and port services, according to NOAA NOAA Fisheries
Harmed
- Loggerheads in the Gulf of Ulloa — NOAA identified Mexico in 2013 for loggerhead bycatch NOAA Fisheries
Why?
NOAA identified Mexico under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for loggerhead bycatch. NOAA Fisheries
How?
Magnuson-Stevens Act section 403 identification and certification; a negative certification leads to the denial of US port access for the vessels concerned. NOAA Fisheries
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
Under section 403 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NOAA identified Mexico in 2013 for loggerhead bycatch. An addendum to the 2015 report gave a negative certification. NOAA positively certified Mexico on 1 September 2016 after new rules covering gear, a turtle-death limit and a fish refuge.
NOAA's 2021 report identified Mexico again, and its 2023 report gave a negative certification. NOAA states that all Mexican vessels in Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports and port services; the notice was still on the NOAA page, updated 26 June 2026.
- 2013NOAA identifies Mexico for loggerhead bycatch under Magnuson-Stevens Act section 403
- 2015Addendum to the 2015 report gives Mexico a negative certification
- 2016NOAA positively certifies Mexico (1 September) after new rules on gear, a turtle-death limit and a fish refuge
- 2021NOAA's 2021 report identifies Mexico again
- 2023NOAA's 2023 report gives a negative certification
- 2026Port-denial notice for Mexican Gulf of Ulloa gillnet vessels still on NOAA's page (updated 26 June)
How it looked
What was shown, beside what was recorded.
Shown
Recorded
- NOAA identified Mexico in 2013 for loggerhead bycatch; an addendum to the 2015 report gave a negative certification; NOAA positively certified Mexico on 1 September 2016; the 2023 report gave a negative certification.
- NOAA states all Mexican vessels in Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports and port services.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2013–2023OngoingNOAA identification and certification of Mexico for loggerhead bycatch under Magnuson-Stevens Act section 403NOAA Fisheries (administrative process) · Regulatory · NOAA Fisheries → Mexico (Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries)
NOAA identified Mexico in 2013; an addendum to the 2015 report gave a negative certification; Mexico was positively certified on 1 September 2016; the 2023 report gave a negative certification. All Mexican vessels in Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries are barred from US ports and port services. NOAA Fisheries
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record Not stated: the date of the 2023 publication.
- None on record Not stated: any re-certification since the 2023 negative certification.
Did the harm stop?
NOAA's port-denial notice for Mexican vessels in the Gulf of Ulloa gillnet fisheries was still on its page, updated 26 June 2026. The sources reviewed do not measure loggerhead bycatch after the 2016 rules.
Who paid?
No amounts are on record.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project✓ Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Government and regulators
- Port denials under the Moratorium Protection ActNOAA Fisheries · 2026-06-26
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