Blue foods in national climate strategies: Mexico

Abstract

Mexico’s rich marine and freshwater ecosystems support diverse and culturally significant blue food systems. In 2019, the fisheries and aquaculture sector supported nearly 297,000 direct jobs, mainly in capture fisheries. Mexico is a net exporter of blue foods, generating US$1.4 billion in export earnings. Mexicans consume nearly 13.8 kg of blue foods per person annually, below the 2022 global average of 20.2 kg per year. Recognizing their broad contributions, the Mexican government has stated that fisheries and aquaculture are priorities, with efforts to strengthen regulations, increase seafood consumption to reduce malnutrition and obesity, and support ecosystem restoration. Fully realizing the potential of blue foods will also require addressing overfishing and planning for climate threats such as warmer waters, deoxygenation, and stronger storms. This brief is part of a series assessing how blue foods can support national climate goals by combining country-specific data on production, trade, consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and climate risks to identify opportunities for mitigation and adaptation. It is intended for decision-makers developing national climate strategies in Mexico and similar contexts, as well as funders and implementing partners targeting blue foods in climate initiatives.