Quintana Roo Delays Fishing Permit Fees Amid Backlash

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Secretariat of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan) has postponed the collection of fees for sport and recreational fishing permits following complaints from various fishing associations and clubs in the state.

SEFIPLAN Had Previously Announced Costs

Days earlier, Sefiplan had announced that fees for sport and recreational fishing would range from 479 pesos for a one-day permit to 1,683 pesos for an annual permit.

Weeks ago, the Quintana Roo government signed coordination agreements with the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fishing (CONAPESCA) and the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture (IMIPAS) to transfer fee collection responsibilities, now managed by the state government.

Fiscal Incentive for Sport Fishing

However, in an official statement, Sefiplan announced a 100% fiscal incentive for individuals practicing sport fishing, exempting them from the 2.5 UMA (Measurement and Update Unit) payment. This measure will remain in effect until December 31 of this year.

As a result, sport fishers will only need to pay the 196-peso fee charged by the federal government instead of the previously proposed 479 pesos, which included a 283-peso state fee.

Foreign nationals engaging in sport fishing in the state will now pay only 50% of the 283 pesos originally planned for this year.

Significant Reduction in Fees

According to Sefiplan’s agreement, the 100% subsidy means sport fishers will pay only the federal fee of 196 pesos instead of the combined state and federal total of 479 pesos.

Under the proposed 2025 fiscal law, the state government intends to allocate 40% of the revenue from sport fishing and nautical services to promote sport fishing, another 40% to fisheries and aquaculture management and water surveillance, and the remaining 20% for equipment, vessels, and fuel for sport fishing activities.