Maya Octopus Granted Protected Status in Yucatan: First in Mexico

The Maya Octopus, native to the Yucatan Peninsula, has been granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. This makes it the first fishery of its kind in Mexico to be recognized for sustainable production practices. The status was awarded following a request by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture (IMIPAS). As of the end of 2023, the mollusk's catch totaled 19,895 tons, meeting 93 percent of the target set by IMIPAS for the states of Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo.

The PGI status, announced on August 23 by the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property (IMPI) in the Federal Official Gazette (DOF), designates this marine species as a national asset. Its capture and sale will be exclusive to the fishery in the states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. These regions primarily export the species to markets in Europe and Asia.

The key distinction between Origin Denomination and Geographical Indication is the link to the place of origin. Geographical Indications do not require endemic inputs or traditional manufacturing methods for protection. Instead, they only need to demonstrate one of these elements and that the product is named after its place of origin. The Maya Octopus now joins a long list of products with geographical indication, including Sayula's cajeta, Oaxaca's alebrijes, Capula's catrinas, the hammered copper of Santa Clara del Cobre, and the butifarra from Jalpa de Méndez, among others.

The protection covers the coastal region of the Yucatan Peninsula, including the states of Campeche, Yucatan, and the northern coast of Quintana Roo. The area extends from the coastline to a maximum depth of 12 to 15 meters, stretching from Isla Mujeres and Quintana Roo in the northwest to Isla Aguada, Campeche in the southwest. The agreement also stipulates that the octopus can only be caught during the day using the trailing or campechano method. This highly selective system only catches octopuses, allowing juveniles to be returned to the sea and protecting females that have spawned and are caring for their eggs. The method involves drifting the boat or pulling it along with the wind and currents, using several lines or cords without hooks tied to two "jimbas" (rods or bamboos) to increase the sweeping area on the seabed. This process is considered environmentally friendly as the boats only require fuel to reach the fishing area, where they operate with the push of the wind or tide currents, resulting in a significantly lower carbon footprint than other fisheries.