Mexican Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Fishing: 86 Tons Seized

The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing (Conapesca), in partnership with the Secretary of the Navy (Semar), has seized 86,600 kilograms of illegally caught seafood across 17 Mexican states, including Yucatan.

It's been widely reported that modern pirates operate with impunity in the waters off Yucatan. These pirates have established a thriving black market, negatively impacting the livelihoods of local fishing families who rely on the sea for their income. Ana Maria Pech Chacon, president of the Union of Fishing Vessel Owners, recently revealed that these illegal fishermen are catching grouper and octopus through unauthorized diving methods. They then sell their catch to restaurants, freezing companies, and even advertise their products on social media. Other species such as snails and sea cucumbers are also being affected by this illegal activity.

Between January 1 and February 15 of this year, the agency of the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) joined the Navy in conducting 850 inspections and surveillance operations. They checked 647 vehicles and issued 203 inspection records. The operations also resulted in the seizure of a major vessel, eleven minor vessels, ten outboard motors, and 45 vehicles. Furthermore, 203 aquatic tours, 1454 land tours, 268 checkpoints, and 168 prevention talks directed at fishing workers were conducted.

The 17 states where these operations took place all have coastlines. They include Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo.