Ensenada inaugurated its first clinic authorized to perform mandatory medical evaluations for maritime workers on Wednesday, April 29. The new Centro Médico Medket is the first facility in all of Baja California certified to issue the medical clearance required for the “libreta de mar,” the seafarer’s record that legally permits commercial fishing and maritime work.
Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. She said the effort began in March 2025 with a formal request to the federal Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante (the national ports and merchant marine authority). The clinic is located near Ensenada’s commercial docks, giving port workers easy access.
10,000 Workers No Longer Need to Travel
The opening affects roughly 10,000 fishermen, aquaculture workers, and other maritime employees in the region. Until now, anyone in Baja California who needed the mandatory medical evaluation had to travel to ports in other states to complete it. That meant lost work days and out-of-pocket travel costs for workers whose livelihoods depend on staying current with federal certification.
The libreta de mar is a federally required document for anyone working in Mexico’s commercial maritime sector. It functions as both a work permit and a health clearance. Without it, fishermen and port workers cannot legally operate. The medical evaluation checks physical fitness for the demands and hazards of work at sea.
Broader Impact on Ensenada’s Fishing Economy
Ensenada is Baja California’s only major seaport. The city sits on the Bay of Todos Santos, about 72 miles south of San Diego, and supports a large commercial fishing fleet alongside a well-known sport fishing scene. The port handles both Pacific catch and aquaculture operations that stretch along the northern Baja coast.
According to the municipal government, the clinic will also help workers who need to obtain or renew their tarjeta de control (worker identification card) alongside their libreta de mar. Agatón Muñiz said the goal is to allow maritime workers in Ensenada and across Baja California to meet federal regulatory standards without leaving the region.
For expats and residents involved in commercial fishing operations, the change eliminates a logistical headache that previously required coordinating trips to distant ports. The clinic’s location near the waterfront puts it within reach of the workforce it is designed to serve.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net and the Ensenada municipal government.