Yucatán’s octopus fleet has less than two months to bring in most of this year’s catch, and the weather is not helping.
By the end of September, boats had landed 9,135 metric tons of octopus, about 20 million pounds. To reach 25,000 tons, now the industry’s minimum goal, the fleet still needs 15,865 tons, roughly 35 million pounds, before the season closes Dec. 15.
That leaves about 63.5% of the target to come out of the water in the rest of October, all of November, and the first half of December.
When the season opened Aug. 1, the sector expected a haul of 28,000 to 30,000 tons. Given the pace of catches and the days lost to weather, that forecast has slipped to 25,000 to 26,000 tons.
The Gulf fishery targets two species: the Maya octopus, found only off the Yucatán Peninsula, and the common octopus. Most of the octopus eaten in Mexico comes from these waters, and between 2006 and 2021 nearly 82% of the country’s octopus exports came from Yucatán, according to Pulitzer Center reporting.
A rough October
October was supposed to be the month the fleet caught up after an uneven start. Instead, storms, cold fronts, strong winds, and high waves kept boats tied to the dock.
On Oct. 7, Tropical Storm Isaías prompted preventive closures for small boats along parts of the coast, including Progreso and Celestún. On Oct. 17, the season’s second cold front shut Progreso to small craft again, with forecasts of gusts near 30 knots, about 35 mph, and waves of 5 to 9 feet.
Enrique Sánchez Sánchez, president of the Yucatán delegation of the National Chamber of the Fishing and Aquaculture Industry, said days with boats stuck in port have been frequent this month. Both small-scale coastal fishermen and the larger fleet have been affected.
He warned it could get worse in November, when the cold fronts locals call nortes sweep across the Gulf of Mexico more often.
No official tally yet shows how many fishing days have been lost or how much catch the weather has cost.
The season had shown signs of life. In mid-September, the state had about 4,200 tons. By the end of the month, the total had more than doubled.
More than octopus at stake
When boats stay in port, grouper and lobster catches stop too. The ripple runs through freezer plants, processors, truckers, buyers, and market vendors.
Small-scale fishermen feel it first. Many depend on what each trip brings in, and their boats cannot handle heavy swells the way larger vessels can, so a single weather warning can halt their work entirely.
Last year, Yucatán closed its season with about 25,462 tons, worth more than MX$1.7 billion, or roughly US$92 million. Matching that number is now the realistic target.
Demand is not the issue. Yucatecan octopus sells in Europe, the United States, and Asia, as well as at home. Sánchez Sánchez said it currently goes for about MX$100 per kilo, roughly US$2.45 per pound, though the price varies with size and quality. In September it sold for MX$110 to MX$120 per kilo.
The market is there. The challenge now is getting enough calm days at sea.
Enforcement offshore has also made news this month, after authorities seized three boats at Alacranes Reef.
Fast Facts
- Season: Aug. 1 to Dec. 15
- Landed through September: 9,135 metric tons (about 20 million lbs.)
- Revised goal: 25,000 to 26,000 metric tons
- Original expectation: 28,000 to 30,000 metric tons
- 2025 total: About 25,462 metric tons, worth over MX$1.7 billion (US$92 million)
- Current price: About MX$100 per kilo (roughly US$2.45 per lb.)
- Main export markets: Europe, the United States, and Asia
With reporting from Por Esto!, and background from the Pulitzer Center