Mexico’s fishery subsidy policy transformations: Cash transfers and their social and territorial distribution

This article examines the transformation of the fisheries subsidy policy in Mexico, focusing on the shift from a conditional, targeted cash transfer model to a universal, census-based program. Using official data from 2014 to 2022, it analyzes the expansion of the federal subsidy system and its territorial, institutional, and gender-related implications. The replacement of a technical and selective mechanism with an inclusive but opaque registry increased the number of beneficiaries by over 280%, raising concerns about efficiency, equity, and long-term sustainability. Three main impacts were identified: (1) unequal regional redistribution that did not systematically benefit marginalized or Indigenous coastal communities, despite being prioritized in official criteria; (2) increased inclusion of women in the registry, albeit with wide inter-state disparities; and (3) institutional weakening of CONAPESCA, following the elimination of 11 complementary programs and a 25% budget cut. Although the new subsidy has enhanced the visibility of historically excluded groups, such as informal fishers and post-harvest workers—it has also undermined the government’s capacity to address structural challenges, including overfishing, illegal fishing, and maritime insecurity. The article concluded that universal cash transfers alone are insufficient for effective fisheries governance and recommends the reintroduction of targeted indirect subsidies, greater transparency in registry processes, and participatory oversight through citizen monitoring mechanisms.