Yucatán Octopus Season Faces Red Tide Crisis

Yucatán, Mexico — The octopus fishing season in Yucatán, which began on August 1 and will extend until December 15, is progressing with mixed results just over a month and a half into the activity. According to official reports and arrival notices, catches recorded by early September have ranged between 3,800 and just over 5,000 tons, depending on the date and the information cutoff.

The National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca) reported that in the first week of activity, only 403 tons were counted, reflecting a slower start than in other years. The target for the season is set at around 28,000 tons, a figure similar to the amount officially authorized in 2024, when the Official Journal of the Federation set a maximum volume of 29,267 tons for Yucatán and Campeche. In that same period last year, landings of nearly 27,000 tons were achieved.

Environmental and Social Challenges

The development of the 2025 season is being shaped by environmental and social phenomena. The presence of red tide in coastal strips off Progreso and Sisal forced the suspension of work in certain areas and generated uncertainty in the markets.

State authorities estimate that the phenomenon has affected less than 20% of the coastline, but the impact has been significant in fishing communities. Concurrently, poaching through illegal diving has been reported since the first days of the season. Fishermen and cooperatives denounce that this practice reduces the legal catch and puts pressure on sale prices, in addition to risking the sustainability of the resource.

Although initial expectations pointed to a final volume of between 24,000 and 28,000 tons, the low initial production is generating doubts within the sector. Business chambers and cooperatives agree that September and October will be decisive in defining whether the targets can be met.

Localized Impacts and Concerns

Some ports, such as Progreso, Telchac, and Dzilam, have reported catches lower than usual. In the first days of the season, several vessels returned with scarce specimens, a situation attributed both to the dispersion of the resource and to the red tide and illegal fishing.

In towns like Dzilam and Río Lagartos, fishermen point out that unstable weather has also limited outings, with workdays that fail to cover operating costs. The cooperatives are insisting on reinforced surveillance in the area and warn that if conditions do not improve, it will be necessary to evaluate measures such as extending the season to compensate for losses.

While maritime surveillance intensifies and environmental conditions chart the course of the fishery, the octopus remains the primary fishing resource of Yucatán. With more than 12,000 coastal vessels involved in the activity, what happens in the coming weeks will define not only the income of thousands of families but also the state's position in the international market.