In 2024, Mexico had 11,855 aquaculture production units employing 81,453 people.
Photo: Héctor Javier Bustos Robles / Conapesca.
Strengthening the aquaculture sector, especially small-scale aquaculture, is one of the Mexican Government's commitments, which considers it key to its food sovereignty. Through various initiatives, Mexico's National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca) has already benefited more than 12,000 families in 2025.
By October 15, Conapesca had trained 1,643 small- and medium-scale producers, helped strengthen the leadership of more than 600 women in aquaculture, and delivered a total of 1,486,400 finfish fry of different species.
Moreover, at the end of November, the Mexican National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission also announced the opening of a low-interest credit line for the acquisition of aquaculture materials, equipment, and infrastructure.
In 2024, Mexico had 11,855 registered aquaculture production units and 81,453 people working in controlled aquaculture systems. In that same year, the country's aquaculture production was 349,526 tons, representing a 15% increase compared to 2023.
The states of Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, and Nayarit were the most prominent in this activity, and the main farmed species were shrimp, mojarra (Gerreidae), oysters, and carp.
Committed, as mentioned, to actions that strengthen this key sector to Mexico's food sovereignty, in 2025, Conapesca supported the expansion of the variety of farmed species available by delivering a total of 1,468,400 fry, including carp, but also tilapia and trout, to benefit 12,378 Mexican families.
To this, the Mexican National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission added various programs to support small- and medium-scale aquaculture producers. Through these programs, Conapesca provides training in farming techniques, organization, association building, and community development.
The two main programs were the National Program for Self-Managed Aquaculture Technical Support (PNTAA) and the Strategy for Empowering Women in Aquaculture.
In the first, PNTAA, with the aim of promoting economic and nutritional development, Conapesca trained 1,643 small and medium-scale producers in 126 municipalities in 16 states from January to October 15 of this year.
Through the second, the Strategy for the Empowerment of Women in Aquaculture, more than 600 women producers in the country were assisted, recognizing and strengthening women's work in aquaculture in Mexico.
With a self-management approach, these training programs identify leading producers who remain as trainers for their peers in the territories, making capacity building among small-scale producers more efficient and far-reaching.
In addition to these aids, a new initiative was launched at the end of November, this time of a financial nature. As part of the 'Cosechando Soberanía' (Harvesting Sovereignty) credit scheme, Conapesca offered aquaculture producers the possibility of receiving low-interest loans to be used for the purchase of materials, equipment, supplies, and infrastructure.
Thus, individuals and legal entities engaged in aquaculture can access loans under the program of up to MXN 1,300,000 (EUR 60,970.59 / USD 71,153.55) per loan, with an annual interest rate of 8.5% and agricultural insurance.
According to Conapesca, the ultimate goal of 'Cosechando Soberanía' is to boost food production and the well-being of those working in agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture.
In the specific case of aquaculture farmers, it can help them finance:
Aquaculture materials and equipment: cages, grow-out tanks, oyster bags or baskets, and operational materials (cast nets, scoop nets, handling tanks, gloves, coveralls).
Equipment: pumps, aerators, electricity generation systems (including photovoltaic panels), physical-chemical parameter meters, equipment for seed production, post-larvae, and fish fry.
Inputs: balanced feed, fish fry, mollusk seeds, shrimp postlarvae, and macroalgae seedlings.
Infrastructure: cold room equipment.
The aid is available both to producers with farms in federal waters and to land-based production units, i.e., aquaculture in closed or semi-closed systems.
