Mexico’s Fisheries, Aquaculture Production Tops 2.2Mt in 2025

Mexico’s fisheries and aquaculture production exceeded 2.2Mt in live weight in 2025, with more than 333,000 people participating in the sectors, according to the Mexican Institute for Fisheries and Sustainable Aquaculture Research (IMIPAS). The increase was partly driven by aquaculture growth, which helped offset declines in some capture fisheries, as the institute seeks to expand the use of science and technology to improve producers’ livelihoods and strengthen food security.

Alicia Poot, Director General, IMIPAS, calls for greater coordination among government institutions, the private sector, and the scientific community, emphasizing the role of science and technology in improving conditions for fisheries and aquaculture producers while supporting local economies and the sustainable management of marine ecosystems. 

Mexico has more than 11,000 km of coastline and over 3 million km2 of maritime territory, making fisheries and aquaculture relevant to the country’s food security, sovereignty and economic development. “The fulfillment of this objective will be a collective task in which scientific knowledge must be translated into concrete and efficient solutions for fisheries and aquaculture,” Poot says.

Azucena Arreola, President, Chamber of Deputies’ Fisheries Commission, says a direct link must be established between scientific knowledge and the needs of fishing and aquaculture communities. She also calls for legislative and public policy proposals that support sustainable sector development. She highlights IMIPAS’ role in promoting research, innovation, and technology transfer for marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly as communities face climate-related risks such as hurricanes. “We are fundamental, those of us engaged in fisheries and aquaculture, to food sovereignty and to remembering that we must also take care of our environment,” Arreola says.

IMIPAS Expands Research Capacity

The statements came as IMIPAS marked its 64th anniversary. Poot highlights that the institution has moved toward a scientific, precautionary, and sustainable management approach. “For more than six decades, this has been the Institute’s commitment and today, more than ever, it must take on greater relevance, particularly for new generations,” she says.

IMIPAS has 356 researchers, 14 Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Centers (CRIAP), two aquaculture production centers, and 95 active projects monitoring 82 fisheries resources across Mexico. Between 2024 and 2026, the institute issued 271 technical opinions, published 122 technical sheets for the National Aquaculture Charter, conducted 25 research projects supported by 51 technical reports, and provided 65 training sessions benefiting 1,178 producers, according to Poot.

Poot also emphasized the role of women in research, food production, and decision-making across Mexico’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, describing scientific capacity and women’s participation as important components of food security and self-sufficiency. “Women are recognized as protagonists in productive activities: women who produce, organize, generate knowledge and strengthen their communities,” she says.

The event brought together representatives from IMIPAS, the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), universities, research institutions, producers, and civil society organizations, reinforcing the government’s focus on linking scientific research with fisheries management, aquaculture development, and community needs.