Supply Chain of the Ray Resource in Northwestern Mexico: Commercialization and Product Perception

Rays constitute an important fishery resource in northwestern Mexico, supporting food security, employment, and income generation in coastal communities. Understanding their supply chain is essential to identify bottlenecks that limit economic benefits, improve market efficiency, and promote sustainable fisheries management. This study analyzed the ray supply chain in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa to characterize its main actors, commercialization processes, and factors affecting efficiency and sustainability. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 53 fishers and 13 brokers, complemented by direct observations and official fisheries statistics. Results showed that 96.5% of fishers began fishing between 15 and 20 years of age, highlighting the intergenerational nature of the activity. Gillnets were the predominant fishing gear (79.2%), and Rhinoptera steindachneri was the most frequently captured species (37.7% of responses). Between 2018 and 2022, ray commercialization generated MXN $438.4 million (USD $23.94 million) across the four states. Most fishers (62.3%) reported that brokers determine sale prices, whereas 76.9% of brokers stated that they establish purchase prices according to season and market conditions; 92.3% reported doubling purchase prices during resale. Brokers represented the principal commercial link (39.6%) between fishers and primary buyers, underscoring their central role in price formation and product distribution. Traditional fishing and processing practices, together with limited infrastructure and cold-chain logistics, reduced supply chain efficiency and value generation. These findings provide baseline information to support fisheries management, improve commercialization strategies, and promote sustainable development of the ray fishery within a blue economy framework.