Photo: Stockfile/FIS

Shrimp Catch in Mexico in Full Swing on Both Coasts

MEXICO
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

While Tamaulipas Sets Sail After Long Ban, the Pacific Battles Low Yields and Bad Weather

Shrimp boat activity in Mexico is vigorously resuming in the Gulf of Mexico and restarting in the Pacific Ocean, marking the formal beginning of the 2025-2026 season. Fishermen on both coasts, although facing different challenges and expectations, are hoping for a productive season to boost local economies.

Tamaulipas Reactivates Fishing After Record-Long Ban

In southern Tamaulipas, the shrimp fleet began sailing out to sea following a closed season (veda) that lasted seven months, a prolonged interruption that drastically affected both labor and vessel owners. The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) set the formal start of the catch for October 15 at 6:00 PM.

According to Alicia Hernández Ogazón, president of the Union of Shrimp Fishermen and Processors, the long wait forced boat owners to resort to credit to maintain their vessels. Some fishermen even obtained permits to relocate to Campeche, where fishing was already active.

Poto: courtesy José Luis Tapia/ El Sol de Tampico

The departure of the boats, which began on the afternoon of Sunday, October 12 and continued throughout the day on Monday, October 13, is crucial for the economy of neighborhoods like Morelos, Pescadores, and El Cascajal, which depend on the shrimping activity. Over 70% of the fishermen and vessel owners are already positioned offshore, with boats loaded with provisions and fuel, hoping for an abundant season.

The Pacific Returns to Fishing, Facing Adverse Conditions

On the Pacific Ocean coast, the majority of shrimp boats resumed their activities on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, after sheltering from the bad weather caused by Tropical Storm Priscilla. Fishing in the marine waters of the Mexican Pacific formally began on September 29, 2025, with the exception of the Upper Gulf of California, where it started on October 14, 2025.

Photo: Stockfile

However, initial reports are discouraging. Jesús Omar Lizárraga Manjarrez, president of the Union of Pacific Coast Vessel Owners, based in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, reported that catches have been very low compared to the previous year, with reports of between one ton and one and a half tons in the first 10 days of fishing..

Photo: Stockfile

The fishing leader noted that no damage to vessels was reported from the strong waves, but there is concern about the presence of another weather phenomenon in the Pacific, which could force another sheltering period and further impact yields.

Photo: Stockfile

National Outlook and Season Closure

Shrimping activity is of great economic importance to Mexico, as shrimp is among the most valuable fishery products in the country, with both domestic and export demand, mainly to the United States and other international markets. The closed seasons are implemented annually based on scientific studies conducted by the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inapesca) to protect the crustacean's reproductive cycles and ensure sustainability.

Despite the initial challenges in the Pacific and the long wait in the Gulf, the sector remains hopeful for improved catches. The close of the 2025-2026 shrimp fishing season in the Pacific Ocean is scheduled for March 3, 2026, based on the lunar effect established by the authorities and fishing sector leaders.

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