Yucatán’s New Fishing Sanctuary Protects Marine Life

Mérida, Mexico — The federal government has decreed the creation of the El Cerrito Fishing Sanctuary, located off the coast of Chuburná Puerto, with the aim of protecting high-value commercial species and generating direct benefits for approximately 450 local fishers starting in 2030.

The area, spanning 49.48 square kilometers, was declared a Partial Temporary Fishing Refuge Zone for an initial period of five years, as published by the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) in the Official Journal of the Federation.

Within this new conservation area, only the capture of red octopus using artisanal techniques and while respecting the current fishing ban will be permitted. All other fishing activities—commercial, sport, or for self-consumption—will be prohibited.

The objective is to safeguard critical reproduction zones for species such as red grouper, black grouper, lobster, and sea cucumber, promoting natural repopulation and the spillover of biomass into other areas.

Sader indicated that the five-year period is the minimum necessary to evaluate the recovery of the populations.

With this decree, El Cerrito joins a network of fishing refuges expanding along the Yucatecan coast. The first was established in Celestún in 2019, covering over 300 square kilometers, and has been a benchmark for community surveillance. Others were later declared in Dzilam de Bravo-San Felipe (2024), El Cuyo (February 2025), Chabihau (February 2025), and Telchac Puerto, just on September 15 of this year.

These six refuges form a conservation corridor stretching from Celestún to El Cuyo, with the purpose of recovering marine ecosystems, increasing the productivity of fisheries, and guaranteeing sustainable benefits for coastal communities. If its objectives are met, the strategy will allow for the repopulation of key species and secure fishing activity in the long term.

The establishment of El Cerrito has been received as a significant step towards fishing sustainability in Yucatán. However, specialists and community organizations warn that the model's success will depend on compliance with regulations, constant surveillance, and the active participation of fishers and authorities to curb illegal fishing that continues to threaten the coastline.