Baja California Sur will invest 6.2 million pesos (roughly $310,000 USD) in aquaculture and fisheries health programs throughout 2026, according to the state’s Secretary of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Agricultural Development (SEPADA). José Alfredo Bermúdez Beltrán, head of SEPADA, announced the joint federal and state funding to support epidemiological surveillance and food safety campaigns across the peninsula.
The programs will be managed by the State Aquaculture Health Committee. Operations will cover a stretch from Bahía Magdalena in Comondú municipality to the North Pacific Zone in Mulegé, monitoring bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, and fish raised or harvested in those waters.
Oyster Industry and Producer Impact
The investment directly supports one of BCS’s most important industries. The state’s oyster sector, centered on Japanese oyster production, generates 2,500 metric tons annually. More than 600 producers organized into 132 cooperatives rely on aquaculture for their livelihoods, and 40 percent of cooperative members are women.
Health monitoring of shellfish is critical for both domestic consumption and exports. Active surveillance ensures that oysters, clams, shrimp, and fish meet food safety standards before reaching restaurants, fish markets, and export channels.
Part of a Broader Push for BCS Agriculture and Fisheries
The aquaculture health investment is part of a larger package of state spending on the primary sector in 2026. SEPADA also announced that registration windows for state fisheries and aquaculture support programs will open on April 6, with a focus on women, young people, and producers in vulnerable situations. The broader fisheries spending plan exceeds 20 million pesos (about $1 million USD), covering commercial and sport fishing support, equipment, and vessel purchases.
Bermúdez Beltrán said SEPADA will continue field visits across the state through its Subsecretariat of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture to implement strategies that strengthen the fishing and aquaculture sectors. Producers seeking more information can contact the agency at 612-12-3-94-00, extension 16018, or via WhatsApp at 612-10-5-03-58.
The state government separately announced a 207 million peso investment in livestock programs for 2026, including zoosanitary campaigns to keep BCS free of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. Together, the initiatives represent a significant state commitment to food production and safety across the peninsula.
This story was first reported by the Baja California Sur state government at bcs.gob.mx.