The fishermen of Salina Cruz, Mexico, once renowned for their abundant shrimp harvests, are now facing unprecedented challenges. As the shrimping season approaches in mid-October, uncertainty clouds the horizon. High diesel prices, a critical input for their operations, have caused many to reconsider whether they will venture out to sea. “We’ve been struggling for six years now,” laments Alberto Román Pineda, a representative of the local fishing organizations. “They promised us relief, but the price of diesel only continues to rise.”

This steep increase in fuel costs is not the only factor undermining the local fishing industry. The rising cost of spare parts for shrimp boats and competition from South American farmed shrimp have further eroded profitability. “When the season begins, we estimate that only 20 out of the 30 boats in the Salina Cruz fleet will head out to fish,” explains former fishing leader Amós Rojas.

Shrinking Catches, Rising Costs

The latest shrimping season, which ended in March 2024, underscored the gravity of the situation. Nearly half of the vessels were moored by January, as dwindling shrimp yields and soaring operational costs made continued fishing untenable. Fishermen recall a time when 25-day trips yielded up to 14 tons of shrimp, but today, those same trips bring in barely four tons—a result of overfishing and a lack of oversight in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Illegal shrimping by “changueros” (fishermen using speedboats) has exacerbated the problem.

Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, offers a partial lifeline in the form of 25,000 liters of diesel per boat at the start of the season, worth approximately 650,000 pesos (USD 33.8 thousand). However, this fuel supply covers only the first trip. For the remaining trips, each lasting 25 days, fishermen must invest over a million pesos (USD 52 thousand), covering diesel, repairs, food, and other necessities.

Aging Fleet, Aging Workforce

The struggles facing Salina Cruz shrimpers extend beyond fuel prices and depleted stocks. The workforce is aging, and younger generations are increasingly reluctant to join the industry. “Almost all of us are over 50,” says Pineda. “Young people prefer jobs with companies that pay 3,000 to 4,000 pesos weekly (USD 156 to 208), while on the boats, we make less than 10,000 pesos a month (USD 520).”

Boat owners, too, are weighing their options, with some considering exiting the industry altogether. “My family is thinking about selling our boat,” says Luis Alejandro López Paulo, another local fisherman. His boat was docked by January, months before the official season ended in March.

Economic Ripples in the Local Economy

The decline of the shrimping industry is felt far beyond the docks. Local businesses that once thrived on the provisioning of shrimp boats are now struggling. José Alfredo Agustín Jiménez, the director of fishing for the municipal government, notes that the provisioning of boats—a process that involves purchasing food, water, and other supplies—once generated significant income for local traders. But as the fishing industry falters, so do the businesses that depend on it. “With the collapse of fishing, sales also fall,” Jiménez says.