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Mexico marine fisheries management and regulation

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2026-10-17 00:36 UTC → 2026-10-17 08:26 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Mexico is implementing various changes to its marine fishing regulations and quotas. Following the 104th meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT), Mexico secured an increase in its Pacific bluefin tuna catch limit for the 2027-2028 period, raising the quota from 10,763 to 11,256 tons. In the Alto Golfo de California, Mexico’s National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) have reduced the vaquita marina protection area by approximately 86 percent, decreasing it from 11,106 square kilometers to 1,562 square kilometers. This change allows for the return of gillnet fishing in a significantly larger portion of the region following an agreement between the government and fishermen. President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the decision, stating the goal is to balance the conservation of the critically endangered vaquita marina with the economic well-being of local fishing communities, such as those in San Felipe, Baja California. The new regulations utilize technical delimitations recommended by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA) based on historical sightings and 2025 acoustic monitoring. While the gillnet prohibition zone has been reduced, a 225-square-kilometer ‘Zero Tolerance Zone’ remains in place, where fishing and navigation are prohibited except for authorized research, environmental monitoring, and habitat restoration. To support enforcement, the government is implementing stricter monitoring, including mandatory satellite tracking for vessels and designated landing sites. The decree also establishes specific fishing hours, including a prohibition on night fishing from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM, and authorizes a new transit channel for vessel navigation. While some fishing cooperatives have welcomed the move, the policy has faced significant backlash. Environmental organizations warn that the reduction in protected space could accelerate the extinction of the species, which has a population estimated at only seven to ten individuals.

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