The 2025–2026 shrimp season is scheduled to conclude on March 3, 2026

Shrimping Season in Mazatlán Starts on a Low Note

MEXICO
Monday, October 13, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Fishermen report low catches in high seas, and Hurricane Priscilla forces the fleet to seek shelter.

MAZATLÁN, SINALOA. One week after the opening of the high seas closure for the 2025–2026 shrimp season, initial reports from fishermen in the Pacific Ocean are not encouraging. Catches have been minimal, and the meteorological phenomenon, Hurricane Priscilla, has forced a large part of the fleet to suspend operations, negatively impacting the harvest.

The shrimping season for the industrial fleet in the high seas of the Mexican Pacific officially began at 00:00 hours on September 29, 2025, a date established by the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) in consensus with the sector.

The president of the Union of Pacific Littoral Shipowners (Unión de Armadores del Litoral del Océano Pacífico), Jesús Omar Lizárraga Manjarrez, confirmed that the first few days of fishing have been disappointing. "Minimal catches, one could say, compared to the last season," said Lizárraga, adding that shipowners are having difficulty reaching a volume that allows them to recover their operating costs.

Reduced Fleet and Low Expectations

According to data prior to the start of the season, the fishing fleet in Mazatlán, made up of about 500 boats, was already operating at reduced capacity. It was estimated that only about 40% of the vessels, roughly 200, would set sail, a figure similar to the previous harvest. The low expectations, which extend even to shore-based fishermen, are partly due to preliminary studies by the Mexican Institute for Fisheries and Sustainable Aquaculture Research (IMIPAS), which indicated low shrimp production compared to previous years.

El Factor Meteorológico: Huracán Priscilla

In addition to the low productivity of the nets, an external factor has paralyzed the activity: Hurricane Priscilla. This system formed in early October 2025 and, although it moved parallel to the coast, it generated intense rain, strong winds, and high waves in states like Sinaloa and Baja California Sur, forcing the temporary closure of key ports.

"A good tide for shrimp fishing did not present itself in this first week," argued fishermen, citing unfavorable weather conditions. The presence of Priscilla forced many boats to seek shelter in the nearest ports to prevent any tragedy, halting the harvest at a crucial time.

Nevertheless, Jesús Omar Lizárraga expressed the sector's confidence that, once the meteorological phenomenon dissipates, conditions will improve. He explained that these types of disturbances can, paradoxically, help the buried crustacean come out to the surface, which could translate into better catches in the coming days.

The 2025–2026 shrimp season is scheduled to conclude on March 3, 2026, the date when the general closure begins across the entire Mexican Pacific coastline. The shrimp sector in Mazatlán remains hopeful that upcoming trips to the high seas will reverse this difficult start.

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