. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/MEX/117 
7 July 2006 
 (06-3290) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   MEXICO
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and 
Food (SAGARPA) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above: 
National Enquiry Point (General Directorate of  Standards/Ministry of the Economy Enquiry 
Point) 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Fishing vessels 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proyecto de Norma 
Oficial Mexicana NOM-062-PESC-2005, Para la utilización del Sistema Satelital de 
Monitoreo de Embarcaciones Pesqueras (Draft Mexican Official Standard NOM-062-
PESC-2005 on the use of the Fishing Vessel Satellite Monitoring System)  
6. Description of content:   The purpose of this draft Mexican Official Standard is to help 
ensure the optimum use of fishery and marine resources through the increased monitoring of 
national fishing fleet operations. 
 Once adopted and published, this draft Standard will be bi nding upon all persons 
engaged in fishing activity in covered fish ing vessels exceeding 10 metres in length, 
equipped with a stationary (inboard) engine  of a nominal power exceeding 80 HP, which 
operate in waters under Mexican federal jurisd iction in the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of 
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, within the Ex clusive Economic Zone.  This draft Standard 
will also be binding upon Mexican flag v essels engaged in deep-sea fishing activity. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   
 The aim of this draft Mexican Official St andard is to protect the environment and 
natural resources. 
  
 G/TBT/N/MEX/117 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable: 
(cont'd)   The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic  Tunas (ICCAT), regional bodies of which 
Mexico is a member, have agreed that memb er countries are to set up satellite systems to 
monitor fishing fleets.  This is consistent with  the  International Plan of Action to Prevent, 
Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported a nd Unregulated Fishing (FAO, 1999), which 
recommends the implementation of a vessel monitoring system (VMS) in accordance with national standards. 
 In order to protect fishing activity in Mexico, more specific information is required 
concerning the operations of registered fishing vessels, in particular within the Exclusive 
Economic Zone.  Since this is a matter of nati onal sovereignty, measures must be also be 
introduced in respect of a follow-up, suppor t and assistance programme.  Such a programme 
would include the implementation of mechanis ms that were able to provide relevant 
information on the status of fishing fleets, whether on route or in fishing zones. 
 Fleet management and improved and more  extensive inspection and surveillance 
are also key factors in preventing the indiscrim inate capture of species that do not form part 
of the intended catch.  New technology must be used to improve the efficiency of these 
tasks, with the collaboration of  all the actors involved in these activities.  
On the basis of the above, the Fishing V essel Satellite Monitoring System used must 
comprise standard equipment that can:  
 (a) Provide the exact location of a v essel, the route taken during its journey, 
and the fishing zone in which it is located. 
 (b) Provide improved information for the purposes of technical and scientific 
fishery research. 
 (c) Improve fishery resource management.  The equipment will also check that rules relating to restricted or unauthorized 
fishing zones are being respected and verify th e rate of entry and re-entry of vessels into 
these areas, thus providing the au thorities with reliable evidence.  
8. Relevant documents:   Diario Oficial de la Federación (Official Journal) of 4 July 2006. 
9. Proposed date of adoption: 
Proposed date of entry into force:  }To be established 
10. Final date for comments:   2 September 2006 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
Dirección General de Normas 
Tel.:     (+52) 55 5729 9300 Ext. 43245 Fax:     (+52) 55 5520 9715 Web site: www.economia-noms. gob.mx (Standards catalogue) 
E-mail:       norma somc@economia.gob.mx