Protest at the Starting Line: Cabo's Boat Community Takes On New Port Fees
On Wednesday morning, October 21, the boats of Bisbee's Black and Blue idled toward the mouth of the Cabo San Lucas marina for the start of the richest marlin tournament in the world. Waiting for them on the rock jetty below the old lighthouse were dozens of local captains, deckhands, fishermen and water tour operators holding banners that read "No excessive fees" and "We work, we don't want high port fees."
The protest was peaceful, and the timing was deliberate. With 174 teams and anglers from around the world on the water, Cabo's working boat community wanted everyone to see what it is up against: a new set of federal port fees that local operators say could put some of them out of business.
What changed
The fees come from ASIPONA, the Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional, the federal agency that runs Mexico's ports and, in Cabo San Lucas, the public docks, ramps and piers inside the marina. Local press reports that ASIPONA's Cabo San Lucas office asked for a new breakdown of charges on September 18, and the new schedule was published in Mexico's official gazette, the Diario Oficial de la Federación, on October 1. Operators were told the charges would start within about 20 days.
The new schedule covers nearly everything a working boat does in the harbor: docking, ramp launches, overnight berthing, fueling at the dock, boarding passengers and use of the pier where bay tours load. It also includes new charges for cruise ship passengers.
The numbers that have the community upset, as reported by local outlets:
- The daily port fee for a sportfishing boat rises from about 17 pesos to about 117 pesos.
- The daily fee for a recreational yacht rises from about 64 pesos to about 352 pesos.
- Operator associations say increases across the different charges run from roughly 150% to more than 550%.
- One boat owner said berthing at the fuel dock now runs 1,200 to 1,300 pesos.
- One association leader said there is even a proposed 100 peso charge just to walk in the marina.
Who is pushing back
Roughly 1,400 working boats operate out of the Cabo San Lucas marina, from pangas and sportfishers to glass bottom boats, water taxis and party boats. The opposition is broad: the Federación de Sociedades Cooperativas Mar Azul, the Asociación de Prestadores de Servicios Acuáticos de El Médano, the Unión de Pescadores y Servicios Náuticos de Los Cabos and FONMAR have all spoken out.
Wednesday was not the first protest. Operators rallied outside the CATTAC building on Monday and marched along the marina boardwalk on Tuesday before returning to the jetty for the Black and Blue start.
Their main complaint is not that they have to pay. "We are not against paying for services or for maintaining the ports," one group said in a statement. Their objection is that the fees were set without consulting the people who use the port, that the increases are far beyond what small operators can absorb, and that nobody has explained what the money will pay for. Carlos Rosales of the Mar Azul federation put it simply: they reject the fee because there was no consultation.
What they are asking for
- A dialogue table with ASIPONA, the maritime authority and the sector to review the fees.
- A clear explanation of how the fees were calculated and how the revenue will be used.
- Rules that let small operators keep working.
Fishing cooperatives say they are preparing an amparo, a legal challenge under Mexican law, and some groups have said they may stage a protest on the water in the bay if there is no agreement.
The other side
As of this week, ASIPONA had not made a public statement on the protests or opened negotiations, according to local press. We will add their side here if and when they respond.
Why it matters beyond the docks
Operators say the timing is hard. Speaking about the fees, Senator Susana Zatarain said local business sales fell 25% to 35% from January to August, and that at least 27 restaurants have closed temporarily or for good. Groups opposing the fees also cite tourism trust figures showing fewer visitors last year. Their concern is that the cost will not stay on the docks: it could show up in the price of bay tours, water taxis and fishing trips, and in Cabo's appeal to cruise lines.
What it means for your trip
Right now, Cabo's boats are fishing and the Black and Blue started on schedule. If you have a trip booked with Lands End Charters, nothing changes today. We will keep following this story and post updates in our weekly fishing report.
Questions about a trip? Text or call us at 800-281-5778. It's a US toll free number, not an international call. Prefer we reach out? Request a call on the Contact Us page at landsendcharters.com
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