The federal SADER (National Fisheries and Aquaculture Agency), through CONAPESCA, announced that shrimp fishing will begin at midnight on October 14th in the waters of the upper Gulf of California, i.e., in the area of San Felipe, Baja California, and the Gulf of Santa Clara, in Sonora.
Ramón Franco Díaz points out that illegal vessels are abundant in San Felipe, and there is no certainty about who will buy their products.
In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), through the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (CONAPESCA), announced the dates and areas for the lifting of the ban on all shrimp species in federally-owned waters of the Pacific Ocean, lagoon-estuarine systems, and the Upper Gulf of California, as well as the closing date for 2026.
Starting at midnight on October 14, 2025, in marine waters of the Upper Gulf of California (San Felipe, Baja California Sur, and Gulf of Santa Clara, Sonora).
Likewise, a fishing ban is established for all shrimp species in lagoon-estuarine systems, marshes, bays, and marine waters of the Pacific Ocean coast, including the Gulf of California, starting at midnight on March 3, 2026.
Ramón Franco Díaz, president of the Federation of Coastal Fishermen’s Cooperatives of San Felipe, “Ramón Rubio Castro,” commented that the date for the start of shrimp fishing, October 14, was in some way their suggestion.
He mentioned that although in past years shrimp fishing began in September, by now the shrimp population is actually very small, so they prefer to wait for it to grow a little more.
At the moment, he has no idea how many boats will go out fishing from that day on, since the federation he heads could have 25 or 30 boats, and those from other federations will have to be added. Many illegal fishermen are fishing in the Upper Gulf of California.
“Although the season is open, not all boats are going out to work, especially now with the current economic situation. It’s more difficult, much more difficult because we don’t have certainty of shrimp buyers, there’s no credit at the gas stations.”
The Dates
The measures were determined based on the technical opinion of the Mexican Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (IMIPAS), whose objective is to protect the reproductive processes of the crustacean, and in consensus with the shrimp fishing sector, coastal and offshore fishermen and women.
The dates published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) are: Starting at midnight, on September 19, 2025, in the lagoon-estuarine systems, marshes, and bays of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit, as well as in the Magdalena Bay-Almejas lagoon system (Baja California Sur), Jalisco, and Colima.
Starting at midnight on September 29, 2025, in marine waters of the Mexican Pacific, with the exception of the Upper Gulf of California, allowing the operation of medium- and high-sea fleets.
