The Ensenada municipal government trained 136 local fishers and sport tourism workers in free maritime safety courses held May 6 through 13. The program, the first cycle of 2026, covered both theoretical and practical instruction required to obtain a seafarer’s logbook, known in Mexico as a libreta de mar.
Captain Venicio Zamora led the training. The city invested 95,647 pesos (roughly $4,800 USD) to run the program, while participants collectively saved more than 350,000 pesos (about $17,500 USD) in fees they would have paid at private institutions for the same certification.
Over 600 Fishers Trained Through Ongoing Partnership
The courses are part of a joint effort between the Ensenada city government, the Baja California Secretariat of Fisheries and Sustainable Aquaculture, and the Universidad Marítima y Portuaria de México (UMPM). Since the partnership launched, more than 600 fishers have completed the training.
The libreta de mar is a mandatory credential for anyone working commercially on the water in Mexico. Without it, fishers cannot legally operate. Private courses for the certification can cost several thousand pesos per person, putting the credential out of reach for many independent fishers who earn modest incomes.
What This Means for Ensenada’s Fishing Sector
Ensenada is one of the largest commercial fishing ports on Mexico’s Pacific coast and a major destination for sport fishing charters. The city’s fishing fleet brings in species ranging from yellowtail and bluefin tuna to sea urchin and lobster. Thousands of jobs depend directly on the maritime sector.
Mayor Claudia Agatón Muñiz said the initiative is aimed at professionalizing the work of those who earn their living at sea. The certification ensures that crew members know emergency procedures, proper use of safety equipment, and basic maritime navigation rules.
For the growing number of visitors who book sport fishing trips out of Ensenada, the program raises the baseline safety training for captains and deckhands operating charter boats. Anyone hiring a panga or sport fishing vessel can expect that more crews now hold formal safety credentials.
The city has not yet announced dates for the next cycle of courses. This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.