It should be Claudia Sheinbaum's priority to strengthen fisheries research: NGO's

Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico since October 2024, will have to face serious challenges such as the institutional weakening of fisheries research that has led to the deterioration of species, experts from non-governmental organizations say.

“It is an administration that is just beginning, however, it has serious problems from past administrations that weakened and dismantled the fishing sector. This led to greater overexploitation of resources, a lack of vigilance, an increase in illegal fishing and thus a deterioration of many fish and shellfish populations that are subject to commercial exploitation,” said Alejandro Olivera, representative in Mexico of the Center for Biological Diversity.

For Olivera, the problem became more acute when, under the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inapesca) was transformed into the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (Imipas).

“The role of Imipas is very important because it helps us to know the state of the populations of many fishing resources and there is an impressive backlog in this regard. Currently, decisions are made based on fishing statistics from five years ago. The National Fisheries Charter is not up to date. With this type of information, blind fishing is regulated. They need to give it greater relevance and budget,” said Olivera.

In the absence of updated information, Conapesca continues to grant fishing permits and concessions that contribute to the overexploitation of fish and seafood, he said.

“The number of fishing permits and concessions has not decreased and fishing intensity has increased. There is a total disorder that does not correspond to reality. Many of the permissions are also given out of pressure or favor. A review of all permits and fishing gear is needed,” Olivera said.

Renata Terrazas, executive director of Oceana in Mexico, said in a letter that Imipas needs to be strengthened to generate adequate and scientifically independent information for decision-making and for the creation of fishing policies in accordance with the needs of fishermen, such as to address climate change.

Enrique Sanjurjo, executive director of Baja California Alternative Fishing (ABC Fishing) is optimistic about the appointment of Víctor Manuel Vidal as general director of Imipas, because this is a technical profile. However, he believes that it remains to be seen if his actions differ from previous headlines that responded to political and short-term interests.

“The appointment of technical profiles was obviously viewed with very measured optimism, because we know that governments have demonstrated that they are only interested in solving their short-term political problems. And so far we haven't had a strong signal that it's going to be different in this administration,” he said.