Quintana Roo Distributes Food Cards to Over 1,200 Fishermen During Ban Seasons

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The state Secretariat of Agricultural, Rural and Fisheries Development (SEDARPE) is distributing electronic food cards to more than 1,200 fishermen as part of the 2026 Fisheries Promotion Program, providing support during seasonal fishing bans.

SEDARPE Secretary Jorge Aguilar Osorio said the initiative is part of the New Agreement for the Wellbeing and Development of Quintana Roo, a government model promoted by Governor Mara Lezama that prioritizes fishing families and their food security.

The state investment totals 3,303,428 pesos (about $175,000), distributed transparently under the oversight of the Secretariat of Anti-Corruption and Good Government (SABGOB), Aguilar Osorio said.

The program benefits 1,251 fishermen across eight municipalities: 472 in Lázaro Cárdenas, 234 in Isla Mujeres, 169 in Cozumel, 128 in Othón P. Blanco, 85 in Benito Juárez, 65 in Tulum, 52 in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, and 46 in Puerto Morelos. Each recipient receives a one-time annual support of 2,640 pesos (about $140) in food supplies.

Aguilar Osorio emphasized that the aid is delivered each year during ban seasons, such as those for Caribbean spiny lobster and octopus, ensuring families have food while respecting conservation periods and promoting responsible use of natural resources.

The bans are essential to protect species reproduction and ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries, he said. The support compensates for lost income during these critical periods regulated by federal norms.

In Quintana Roo, fishing bans apply at different times: grouper in February and March; conch in February and from May 1 to November 3; lobster from March 1 to June 1; shark and dogfish from May 15 to June 15; and octopus from December 16 to July 31.