Mexico modifies San Felipe fishing rules to protect vaquita marina

The Mexican government has modified fishing restrictions in San Felipe, Baja California, to balance the protection of the endangered vaquita marina with the economic needs of local fishing communities. A new decree, effective October 14, 2026, redefines restricted areas and permitted fishing methods in the Upper Gulf of California.

The regulation reduces the area where traditional gillnets are prohibited from approximately 11,106 square kilometers to 1,562 square kilometers. This change includes a 225-square-kilometer ‘Zero Tolerance Zone’ where strict protections remain in place. Outside of this zone, fishermen may use gillnets and other traditional equipment under specific conditions.

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated the decision followed technical reviews and dialogue with fishermen who had faced economic hardships. While the decree introduces new rules for identification and surveillance, local fishing cooperatives have indicated that the changes allow them to resume shrimp fishing using traditional methods in most of the region.