Fishermen Request Formal Crab Harvest Program in Chetumal Bay

Chetumal, Mexico — Fishermen from Punta Catalán in the Calderitas community of southern Quintana Roo have requested that state and federal authorities implement a formal crab harvesting program in Chetumal Bay as a productive alternative to diversify fishing activities and generate higher income without compromising the area’s environmental status, confirmed Jorge Aguilar Osorio, Secretary of Agricultural, Rural and Fisheries Development (Sedarpe).

Aguilar Osorio explained that the proposal is under technical and environmental review because Chetumal Bay is part of the Manatee Sanctuary Protected Natural Area, meaning any resource use must comply with strict sustainability and conservation guidelines. Agencies like the Quintana Roo Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas (Ibanqroo) are participating in this process to evaluate permitted management and harvesting models.

The secretary noted that crabs are an abundant species in the bay with high commercial value in regional and national markets, representing a significant economic opportunity for fishermen, especially given low catches of other species and recurring impacts from environmental phenomena.

Aguilar Osorio explained that some fishermen currently harvest crabs on a limited basis for personal consumption or local sale. However, the project aims to organize and regulate the activity, establish controlled extraction volumes, and move toward a sustainable commercial fishing scheme with potential for larger-scale marketing and even export, provided studies permit it.

The Sedarpe head emphasized that the program would seek to directly benefit local cooperatives, strengthen the economy, and ensure that resource use does not affect protected species or the sanctuary’s ecological balance.