Adhara Izette García García was sworn in Wednesday as president of the Baja California delegation of CANAINPESCA (Cámara Nacional de la Industria Pesquera y Acuícola), the national chamber representing Mexico’s fishing and aquaculture industries. She will serve a 2026-2027 term.
García García is only the second woman to hold the position in Baja California. The ceremony took place in Ensenada, the state’s most important commercial fishing port, and drew officials from federal, state, and municipal government as well as industry representatives. The Port Captain of Ensenada attended the event.
A Leadership Post With a Grim Recent History
The appointment carries heavy weight. García García’s predecessor in the role, Minerva Pérez Castro, was shot and killed in Ensenada on July 8, 2024. Pérez Castro had been the first woman to lead the chamber. She was gunned down just hours after giving a press conference in which she denounced illegal fishing and cartel extortion targeting Baja California’s commercial fishermen.
Pérez Castro had publicly complained that drug cartels were demanding protection payments for every pound of clams, fish, and other seafood bought or sold along the coast. Her killing drew condemnation from Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar and prompted a state attorney general investigation.
What the Chamber Does
CANAINPESCA represents the interests of Mexico’s commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors. Its Baja California delegation, based in Ensenada, coordinates with all three levels of government on permits, marine resource management, and industry regulations. Ensenada is home to a major commercial fleet and is a hub for species including lobster, abalone, tuna, and bivalves.
The fishing and aquaculture sector is a major employer along Baja California’s coast. It also directly feeds the seafood supply chain that stocks restaurants and markets in Ensenada, Tijuana, and Rosarito, as well as destinations farther south.
Challenges Ahead
García García takes over a chamber still dealing with the fallout from Pérez Castro’s assassination and the broader problem of organized crime infiltrating coastal industries. Illegal fishing remains a persistent issue in Baja California, where poachers target high-value species like totoaba and abalone, often with cartel backing. The chamber’s new leadership will also need to navigate ongoing tensions between legal operators who pay taxes and comply with environmental regulations and black-market competitors who do not.
No specific policy priorities for García García’s term have been announced. The story was first reported by Ensenada.net.