Mexico has simplified its process for issuing commercial fishing and aquaculture permits, according to the country’s National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca).
The agency, which regulates the nation’s fisheries, said the changes were made in response to calls by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has pushed for a reduction in red tape regulations across the government. In July 2025, Mexico enacted the new National Law to Eliminate Bureaucratic Procedures, which directs all levels of the government to reduce bureaucratic burdens and to promote digitalization of procedures.
Conapesca said it has complied with that directive with a 26 February filing in the Official Gazette of the Federation which reduces procedures and wait times for 12 processes. Wait times were cut from 60 to 21 days for several activities, including fishing permits, aquaculture permits, permits for landing commercial fishery products in Mexican ports by foreign vessels, and changing the holder of a commercial fishing concession.
Conapesca also reduced the wait time for registering satellite monitoring services and for export certificate applications from five business days to three. Fishing permits will be issued in less than five business days. Aquaculture facilities will be able to secure energy quota support within five days, down from ten days.
“With these actions, Conapesca, a decentralized body of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA), has simplified 77 percent of its procedures, going from 79 to 18 active ones, making it easier for producers to keep their fishing and aquaculture activity in order, reaffirming the commitment to work towards the digitization of all its procedures to provide efficient service to users,” Conapesca said in a release.
