Quintana Roo Presents Blue Crab Fishing Monitoring Advances in Manatee Sanctuary

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of Quintana Roo (IBANQROO) presented progress on a blue crab fishing monitoring program in the State Reserve Manatee Sanctuary of Chetumal Bay, aiming to establish sustainable management guidelines for the fishery.

IBANQROO’s Directorate of Protected Natural Areas, Regulatory Improvement, and Archives held a meeting with government and community stakeholders, including the head of the State Secretariat of Agricultural, Rural, and Fishing Development (SEDARPE), representatives from the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (CONAPESCA), and members of the Puerta Maya de Calderitas Tourism and Fishing Cooperative.

Javier Alberto Carballar Osorio emphasized that these efforts are part of a strategy to strengthen sustainable management of fishing resources, supporting coastal communities that rely on blue crab harvesting while preserving the ecological importance of the reserve. “Conservation and the good state of the reserve directly reflect the well-being and development of the communities that depend on it,” he said.

Miguel Mateo Sabido Itzá, director of Protected Natural Areas, Regulatory Improvement, and Archives at IBANQROO, noted that the blue crab fishery in the region currently lacks specific regulation. The coordinated studies aim to generate solid scientific information to establish guidelines for legal, orderly, and sustainable use. “When we care for the reserve, we also care for the future of those who live from it,” he stated.

From November 2025 to February 2026, sampling in the reserve has included biological variables such as weight, size, and sex of the organisms, as well as fishing effort.

Jorge Carlos Aguilar Osorio, secretary of Agricultural, Rural, and Fishing Development, acknowledged the commitment of fishers from the Puerta Maya de Calderitas cooperative and participating institutions to conserving fishing resources and promoting responsible fishing in the region. He highlighted that coordinated work among government levels and the social sector, along with efforts to provide cooperatives with new technologies, training, and best practices, will advance toward legal, orderly, and sustainable use of this crustacean, creating better opportunities for families dependent on this activity.