Once relegated to secondary roles in marketing and processing, women are now leading more than 300 fishing and aquaculture projects across La Paz, Comondú, and Mulegé, according to the Secretariat of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Agricultural Development (SEPADA).
Among the pioneers are the Guardianas del Conchalito, a group of 12 women in La Paz who protect and restore the local mangrove estuary. Since 2017, they have not only cleaned and monitored the ecosystem but also launched the region’s first women-led oyster farm. Despite initial threats and resistance from local groups, they restored tidal channels and built a self-sustaining aquaculture cooperative. Today, their work generates formal income, employs women of all ages, and stands as a model for gender-inclusive environmental stewardship.
Beyond El Manglito, women across Baja California Sur are leading marine farms, oyster ventures, and coastal conservation efforts. Their presence is also growing in recreational fishing. In 2024, Puerto San Carlos, Comondú, hosted the first Women’s Shore Fishing Tournament, drawing 288 participants. The event, organized by local authorities for State Sport Fishing Day, marked a milestone in a space long dominated by men.
In Cabo San Lucas, technical training programs focused on sustainable sport fishing are now being offered exclusively to women, according to Big Fish, a specialized fishing news outlet. These initiatives aim to increase women’s presence at sea and strengthen their leadership in the sector.
In the commercial sphere, women contribute to fishing cooperatives, local sales networks, and value-added activities like seafood processing, canning, and marketing. Yet many of these efforts remain undocumented, leaving their contributions largely invisible in official statistics.
A major step toward recognition came in June 2025, when the Ministry of Agriculture (SADER) announced changes to the Bienpesca program. Designed to support small-scale fishers and aquaculture workers, the revised program now explicitly includes women in Baja California Sur. It also introduces product traceability systems, strengthens surveillance in protected areas, and promotes gender equity throughout the industry.
Challenges remain, but momentum is building. With environmental sustainability increasingly prioritized, women are steadily reshaping the future of fishing in the region.