INACTIVE Mexico Western Baja California Sur swimming crab - pot/trap

In Mexico, one of the most important fisheries for the small-scale fleet is swimming crab. The fishery started during the 1980s and was fully developed by the early 1990s. By 2013, the swimming crab fishery was the 8th highest in production in the Mexican Pacific with ~17,000 t and was the 12th most important in terms of value. 

Baja California Sur is the third largest producer, after Sonora and Sinaloa, with an average of 400 t per year. Crab fishing mainly occurs the coastal lagoons of the western coast of the state. The Magdalena-Almejas lagoon complex is the most important fishing region, contributing to ~76% of the state's production, followed by Ojo de Liebre lagoon (14%) and San Ignacio lagoon (10%) 

The federal regulations for the fishery are listed on the Swimming Crab of the Pacific, the National Fisheries Charter and the Official Mexican Standard for the crab fishery NOM-039-PESC-2003. The standard establishes traps as the only fishing gear allowed in Baja California Sur. Traps specifications, as well as minimum crab size limits, are contained within the regulations. Finally, managers state that the fishery may reach its maximum level and recommends to keep the current level of fishing effort in place.