APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
Between 1969 and 1973 foreign exchange for fishery 
products has resulted in surpluses for Mexico, as illustrated 
below. 
Net fishery product 
eas trade surplus Rate of growth 
(millions) (1969 = 100) 
1969 $47.8 100 
1970 5 Oe 105 
gy 56.7 WAL, 
UTZ Oir2 147 
VO'AS 32) oH 11.337) 
GOVERNMENT ROLE IN FISHERIES 
The government's fishery policies since the early 1970s 
have been designed to substantially increase Mexico's pro- 
duction. In 1970 production was about 560 million pounds 
and a goal of 1.1 billion pounds by 1976 was established. 
In 1970 a subsecretary for fisheries was appointed to 
serve in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to develop 
national policies for fisheries. This action emphasized 
the importance of the fishing industry by promoting the 
fisheries’ decisions to the cabinet level. Under the sub- 
secretary, five directorates were created to manage fishery 
activities; previously there had been one directorate respon- 
Sible for all fishery activities. 
In 1971 a quasi-government corporation--51l-percent 
government-owned and wholly government-operated--was created 
to improve fishery management. The corporation gained con- 
trol over 20 fishery and related enterprises, including 
shrimp packing plants, sardine and tuna operations, fish 
meal plants, and a shipyard. In addition, the corporation 
gained control over processing most of the shrimp produced 
on Mexico's Pacific coast. 
The next major step in strengthening the fishing 
industry occurred in 1972 when a fishing vessel construction 
program was established. The program called for the comple- 
tion of 400 shrimp boats, 80 finfish vessels, and 20 tuna 
boats by 1976. The shrimp industry was already overcapital- 
ized, having more vessels than needed to harvest a limited 
supply of shrimp; however, the premise of the new construc- 
tion program aimed to replace every 14 obsolete boats with 
10 modern shrimp boats. 
382 
