The catch on the east coast of •Mexico appears to be leveling 

 off. On the east coast the stocks of shrimp are fished jointly by- 

 United States and Mexican fleets. The catches of shrimp in the Gulf 

 of Campeche seem to have leveled off, thus indicating maximum production 

 under present methods of operation. An increase in the size of the 

 Mexican fleet in relation to the United States fleet could increase^ 

 Mexican production. Some increase in bro\vn shrimp landings at Tampico 

 can be expected, but the extent of this increase will probably not be 

 great . 



There do not appear to oe any immediate prospects for developing 

 a fishery for deep-water red shrimp ( Hymenopenaeus robustus ) by Mexican 

 fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. 



From an overall view it looks as though Mexico has reached a 

 peak in shrimp production and, on the west coast, may have passed it as 

 far as blue shrirap are concerned. 



COOPERATIVES 



In Mexico the catching of shrijnp is reserved for members of 

 legally authorized fishery cooperatives. No other person can take shrimp 

 legally in Mexico for comraercial purposes. 



Throughout all of Mexico in 195U, according to official figures, 

 there vjere lU^ fishery cooperatives wi th a membership of 10,^08. Of 

 these, 8U cooperatives with 9 ,Q3h members were licensed to fish for 

 shrimp (table 16). 



TABLE 16.— MEXICAN SHRD^iP-riSHERY COOPERATIVES, 

 NUMBER AND MEMBERSHIP, 195U 



87 



