Baja California’s Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SEPESCA) will stop accepting applications for its 2026 fishing and aquaculture support program on Thursday, May 28, at 3 p.m. Anyone in the commercial fishing, sport fishing, aquaculture, or seafood processing sectors who wants state aid must submit paperwork before that deadline.
Physical intake offices are open in four locations across the state: Ensenada, Mexicali, San Quintín, and San Felipe. All applications must be filed in person at one of these offices. No online submission option has been announced.
Who Qualifies for the Program
Eligible applicants include individuals or businesses holding active federal fishing permits, concessions, or authorizations. Those whose permits are currently in the renewal process also qualify. The program covers commercial fishing, sport fishing, aquaculture operations, and seafood processing businesses.
Operators working outside federal waters are eligible as long as they are registered with Mexico’s national fisheries registry, known as the RNPA (Registro Nacional de Pesca y Acuacultura). Civil organizations involved in aquaculture management can also apply, along with new sport fishing service providers entering the industry.
What Permit Holders Should Know
The state government under Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda backs the program. SEPESCA has not published specific funding amounts or the types of support available, whether direct subsidies, equipment grants, or technical assistance. The agency has also not stated how many applicants the program can accommodate.
Foreign nationals holding qualifying Mexican fishing permits are not explicitly excluded from the program. This means expats who operate charter boats, run aquaculture farms, or hold commercial fishing concessions in Baja California waters may be eligible to apply. Anyone unsure of their status should contact the nearest SEPESCA intake office before the deadline.
Intake Office Locations and Deadline
The four intake cities span Baja California’s coast and interior. Ensenada and San Quintín serve the Pacific side. San Felipe covers the Sea of Cortez coast. Mexicali, the state capital, handles the inland region. All offices close their intake windows at 3 p.m. on May 28, giving applicants just days to gather documentation and file.
Baja California’s fishing industry is a major economic engine for the state, supporting thousands of families in coastal communities from San Felipe to Punta Colonet. The state sport fishing license can be purchased online through Baja California’s official portal at sportfishing.bajacalifornia.gob.mx, but the SEPESCA aid program requires a separate, in-person application process.
This story was first reported by The Baja Post.