A seasonal ban on commercial shark and ray fishing took effect May 1 across Mexico’s Pacific coast, including all of Baja California Sur, and will remain in place through July 31. The closure, issued by CONAPESCA (Mexico’s national fisheries commission), prohibits the capture of most shark and ray species in federal waters during a three-month reproductive window. For anyone planning a fishing charter or shark dive excursion this summer, the ban narrows what’s available on the water.
Mexico Has Enforced Shark Fishing Bans Since 2012
The seasonal closure is not new. Mexico first imposed a Pacific coast shark and ray ban in 2012, after decades of declining populations driven by both targeted fishing and bycatch. CONAPESCA has renewed the ban each year since, typically running from May 1 through July 31. The timing corresponds to peak breeding and pupping season for several shark species found in BCS waters, including hammerheads, silky sharks, and blue sharks.
Beyond the seasonal restriction, permanent year-round bans protect four species: great white sharks, whale sharks, basking sharks, and certain giant manta rays. These species cannot be caught, harassed, or landed at any time of year. CONAPESCA has also designated the corridor from Loreto south to Cabo Pulmo National Park as a priority recovery zone for shark populations.
Cabo Pulmo, a marine reserve on the East Cape roughly 60 miles north of San José del Cabo, is central to that recovery effort. Since fishing was banned inside the park in 1995, marine biomass there has increased by an estimated 460%, according to research published in the journal PLOS ONE. Bull sharks and other large predators have returned to the reef system in significant numbers. The Loreto-to-Cabo Pulmo corridor extends that protection logic across a wider stretch of coastline during the summer months.
Mexico ranks sixth globally in shark catch volume, and BCS is one of the country’s top shark-producing states. The fishery is largely artisanal, with small pangas operating out of ports like Punta Lobos near Todos Santos, Santa Rosalía, and communities along Magdalena Bay. Shark meat, sold as cazón, is a staple protein in many coastal towns. Dried shark fin still carries commercial value in export markets, though Mexico banned shark finning (removing fins and discarding the carcass at sea) in 2007.
Sport Fishing Charters and Dive Operations Face Summer Restrictions
The ban applies to commercial fishing, but sport fishing operators also feel its effects. Shark-targeted fishing charters out of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto are off the table through July 31. Catch-and-release shark fishing falls into a gray area that most reputable charter companies avoid during the closure to stay clear of enforcement actions.
Shark diving operations face similar constraints. La Paz operators that run bull shark dives at Cabo Pulmo or whale shark snorkeling tours in the Sea of Cortez already operate under strict permit systems managed by CONANP (Mexico’s national protected areas commission). The seasonal ban adds another layer. Operators who rely on summer tourism should be consulted directly about which trips are still running. Whale shark season in La Paz typically runs October through April, so those tours are already off-calendar.
Recreational anglers who incidentally hook a shark or ray during the ban period are required to release the animal alive. CONAPESCA inspectors and the Mexican Navy conduct periodic checks at boat ramps and landing sites, particularly in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.
Geoduck Season Opens in Magdalena Bay Through February 2027
On the same day the shark ban began, the geoduck clam season opened in Magdalena Bay. The harvest of Panopea globosa runs from May 1, 2026, through Feb. 9, 2027. Magdalena Bay, located on the Pacific coast of BCS about 170 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, holds some of Mexico’s most productive geoduck beds.
Geoducks are large burrowing bivalves that live in sandy seabeds at depths of 15 to 30 meters. Specialized divers harvest them by hand using water jets to loosen the sediment. The clams can live over 100 years, which makes population recovery slow if beds are overharvested. CONAPESCA sets strict annual quotas and monitors landings throughout the season.
The BCS geoduck fishery is worth millions of dollars annually. Much of the harvest is exported to Asian markets, where the clams command premium prices. But geoduck also appears on menus in La Paz, Loreto, and increasingly in Los Cabos restaurants, often served raw as sashimi or in ceviche preparations. Puerto San Carlos and López Mateos, the two main towns on Magdalena Bay, serve as the harvest’s landing ports.
The shark ban runs through July 31. Geoduck season continues through early February 2027. Both announcements were reported by the Gringo Gazette.