Header Tamaulipas
Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera GEF PAE-GEM
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REPORT CARD

Coastal-Marine Zone

Tamaulipas 2025

Tamaulipas Coast by the NUMBERS

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Coastal-Marine Zone Tamaulipas Imagen 2
Photo: Analysis of the Artisanal Elasmobranch Fishery Project – UANL
Coastal-Marine Zone Tamaulipas Imagen 2
Photo: Analysis of the Artisanal Elasmobranch Fishery Project – UANL

Importance of the Tamaulipas Coastal-Marine Zone

The coast of Tamaulipas has outstanding ecological and scenic value. It is a breeding and nursery area for marine and continental species, as well as a key biological corridor for migratory birds. It contains Natural Protected Areas (ANPs, using the Spanish acronym), including Laguna Madre, one of the largest hypersaline ecosystems in the world, and Playa de Rancho Nuevo, the main nesting site for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Economically, the region stands out for fisheries, livestock, and industry, especially the oil industry. Historically and culturally, the Port of Tampico in the south and the city of Matamoros in the north are especially important, shaping a territory where biodiversity and sustainable development coexist.

Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem (PAE GdM)

This initiative brings together Mexico, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the United States, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to protect and restore shared marine and coastal resources. Through actions that reduce pollution, overfishing, and ecosystem degradation, this effort improves water quality, promotes sustainable fisheries, and conserves coastal habitats. The project is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Coastal-Marine Zone Tamaulipas

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A Very High B High C Moderate D Low E Very Low SD No data

INDICATORS

Coastal-Marine Zone
Tamaulipas

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A Very High B High C Moderate D Low E Very Low SD No data

STORIES FROM THE COAST

Sisal
Photo: UANL Artisanal Elasmobranch Fisheries Analysis Project

EcoAve

La Pesca, Tamaulipas

Caring so we can continue, resisting so we can flourish

Faced with economic and environmental uncertainty caused by changes in fisheries and in the local environment, Juana Dapa - a mother, fisherwoman, and community guide - decided to protect the mangrove and the life it shelters. Together with her family, she began offering tourism and nature tours, sharing stories, and helping visitors discover the birdsong. This is how 'EcoAve' was born: an ecotourism and environmental education initiative in La Pesca, Tamaulipas, showing how conservation is strengthened through every reforestation effort, birdwatching experience, and visitor who learns from the environment. Juana and her family have partnered with institutions to foster environmental awareness and love for their territory. Despite the challenges, her story teaches that caring for nature matters more than fear, and that in Tamaulipas there are reasons to stay and keep working.

Coastal-Marine Zone Tamaulipas

Photo: Karina Ocaña

COASTAL-MARINE ZONE
TAMAULIPAS

THROUGH TIME

Environmental events
Climate events
Socioeconomic events
Regulations
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EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED: people and nature


The social-ecological system (SES) corresponds to the coastal-marine study area. It is made up of continuous interactions among three interdependent zones: the continental zone, the coastal zone, and the marine zone. These areas do not function in isolation. The 'Everything is connected' diagram shows the environmental, social, economic, and cultural interactions that occur among them, integrating natural processes and human activities within a single system.

Everything is connected
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RECOMMENDATIONS

Strengthen monitoring of the quantity and quality of coastal water, determine ecological flows, identify pollution sources, and implement measures to reduce flooding and drought risks.
Strengthen monitoring of key and endemic species, and update inventories of species under any risk or protection category. Collaboration with the academic sector and civil society organizations is suggested.
Implement ecological and coastal planning programs that regulate urban, tourism, and coastal development, while promoting integrated landscape management.
Promote a sense of belonging among young people, migrants, and local residents through sustainable productive projects and ongoing training.
Generate studies on fishery production models and tourism service models to promote sustainable economic development.
Strengthen territorial governance to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of territorial, marine, and urban planning.
Promote and finance regional action plans to address the effects of climate change, and update official standards within the framework of the State Climate Change Plan.

PARTICIPANTS

Participantes - Tamaulipas
Participants ▼

Martínez Olguín, O., ACUA; Balderrama Alarcón, J.A., Reyes Monsiváis, S.S., API Tamaulipas; García, J., Guillermo Quiñones, J., Loera, B., Loera, C., Molina, D., Villa Cepeda, L., Villanueva, B., Campamento Tortuguero Barra del Tordo; Acosta Torres, R.A., Dechnik Vázquez, Y.A., Lozada Rodríguez, J.R., Vázquez Pérez, E.U., CFE; Caballero Briones, F., Lima Castillo, M.G., Ulloa Torres, M.J., CICATA, Unidad Altamira, IPN; Molinero Hernández , S., COFEPRIS; Cavazos de la Vega, B., García Reyes, L., Comisión de Caza y Pesca; Caballero Aragón, H., CONABIO; Luna Reyes, R., Mercado Muñoz, F., CONAFOR; Calzada Martínez, E., Hernández Méndez, M., Martínez Ortiz, J.A., Maya Morin, J., Sierra Flores, R., CONANP; Lerma Quiroga, D., CONANP – APFF LMyDRB; Acosta Sánchez, H.H., López Hernández, M., CONANP – Santuario Playa Rancho Nuevo; González Baca, C., Salinas Ordaz, D., CONANP-DRPCGM; González Escandón, S.M., DIF Tamaulipas; Gallegos Rivera, R.T., Dirección de Desarrollo Rural y Sustentable; Cuevas Rivera, M.L, Herver Zarate, R., Márquez, P., Dirección de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Altamira; Padilla Castillo, M.J., Dirección de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Tampico; Vázquez Gallegos, N., Dirección de Educación Municipal, Aldama; Alfaro Barraza, L., Dirección de Ejecución de Medidas para Adolescentes; Colorado Dapa, M.G., Colorado Lara, J.C., Dapa Lara, G.G., Dapa Morales, J.M., EcoAve; Francioli, I., Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas; Badillo Galvan, E., Bonilla Escobedo, C., Lozano Amaro, E., Rodríguez Moreno, K., Gobierno Municipal de Aldama; Echevarria Caballero, I.I., Henggeler Rivera, M.G., Hernández Torres, J.J., Pumarejo Armas, F., Rodríguez Espinoza, C., Gobierno Municipal de Altamira; Martínez, M., Peralta Arriaga, S.L., Gobierno Municipal de Ciudad Madero; Hernández Alfaro , A., Gobierno Municipal de Jiménez; Alarcón Cerna, A.R., Gobierno Municipal de Matamoros; Rangel Mellado, R.M., Gobierno Municipal de Soto la Marina; Cantú Rodríguez, M.O., Gobierno Municipal de Tampico; Guzmán Hernández, A.J., ICEST; Ramírez González, L.A., IICA; García Solorio, L., González Cruz, A., IMIPAS; Ocaña Espinosa de los Monteros, K.G., Serrano Flores , E.D., IMT; Martínez Salgado, C.P., Mijangos Carro, M.A., Piñón Flores, M.A., Sánchez, J., IMTA; Armillas Canseco, J., Barragán de la Parra, M.G.R., De la Rosa Padrón, Z., López Rodríguez, O., Morales de la Serna, R., Mota González, M.C.H., Oyervides Martínez , C.B., Rodríguez Molinar, M.E., Sandoval Salinas, A., INAES; Arano Recio, D.E., Valdés Lara, A.C., INAH Yucatán; Barba Meinecke, H., Piza Chavez, A.R., INAH-SAS; Rodríguez Hernández, A., INECC; Gómez, M.C., Hueda Tanabe, Y., Villagómez Velázquez, T., INPI; Trejo Igueravide, D., ITAVU; Romo Contreras, J.V., PAUT; Cepeda Acosta, F.J., Permisionario de pesca; Huerta Carreón , H.E., Valdez Cruz, J.A., PROFEPA; Barriga Vallejo, C., Briones Castillo, M.A., García, O., Puente Rodríguez, F., Salazar Ortiz, J., Varela Echavarría, A., Pronatura Noreste, A.C.; González Nicacio, S., Restaurante Nuevo Milenio; Camarillo, A., Cepeda Acosta, A.A., Cepeda Acosta, D., Figueroa, A., Hernández, C., Padilla, M., Sánchez, S., Santoyo, A., Torre, M.J., S/I; Cruz Cruz, I., Del Bosque Valadez, J.M., Guillén Lorenzo, R., Herrera Castillo, J.M., Lerma Ramos, L., Tovar Ortiz, J., SDRPA; Mata Esparza, N.P., Reyes Mata, J.A., Torres Rodriguez, J.E., SEBIEN; Barrientos Arellano, P., González Hernández, A.K., Guevara Rodríguez, M.V., Salinas Maldonado, E.B., Secretaría de Administración; Almaguer Hernández, J.H., Bortoni Gómez, I., Torres Castillo, N.E., Secretaría de Economía; Ameca González, J.E., Hernández Guerra, M.P., Martínez, C., Secretaría de Educación; Gallegos Montalvo, L., Mata Baez, D.M., Treviño Lara, A., Secretaría de Finanzas; Reta Heredia, I.J., Rocha Rojo, M.N., Secretaria de Obras Publicas; Alfaro García, P., Secretaria de Programas Federales; De Luna Gonzalez, C.D., López Mejía, S., Muro Hidalgo, K.A., Villanueva Huerta, A.G., SEDATU; Ramírez Fajardo, G., Silva Santacruz, R.A., SEDENER; Heinz Becker, K., Hernández Córdova, J.O., Ortiz Flores, A.A., Peñaloza Medellín, D.A., Silva Saldaña, R.S, SEDUMA; López Coble, M., Márquez Zumaya, V.M., Mendoza García, M.J., Rojas García, M.B., SEMAR; Hernández Cazares, M., Rodríguez Barrientos, J.A., SEMARNAT; Galván Tovar, J.F., Moreno Trujillo, L.I., SENASICA; Jael García, N., Marín Zamarripa, G., Morales Azua, M., Núñez Mordido, R., Sánchez Espinoza, E., Sociedad de Producción Pesquera Pesca; Gómez Rivera, J.C., SRHDS; Vela Reyna, F., STPS; Gómez Nicolás, M.P., Subsecretaría de Hidrocarburos; Montoya González , P.R., Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuacultura; Alarcón Ruiz, E., TecNM Ciudad Madero; Olmeda de la Fuente, S.E., Rodríguez Castro, J.H., TecNM Ciudad Victoria; Betanzos Reyes, M., Colorado, J., Domínguez H, M., Domínguez, J., Guzmán Ramírez, E., Hernández, G., Nava Castillo, R., Trejo Flores, A., Terra Asesoría Ambiental S.C.; Cabañas Vargas, D.D., UADY; Herrera Barquín, H., Medina, D.Y., UANL; Carreón Zapiain, M.T., López García, E., Oñate González, E.C., UANL-FBC; Arellano Méndez, L.U., Garza Torres, H.A., Guerra Pérez, A., Mora Olivo, A., Requena Lara, G.N., UAT; Valdez Iuit, J.O., UNAM-FC UMDI Sisal; Ávila Foucat, V.S., Martínez Córdova, C., UNAM-IIEC; Carro, K., Universidad Cultural Metropolitana; Bustamante, A.K., García Martínez, M., Garzón Sosa, S.B., Ingalls, A.F., Rosales Ángeles, F., UNOPS; Ovando Rocha, M.S., UT Altamira; Amador Cano, G., Cepeda Martínez, L.M., Colorado Dapa, J.F., Escalante Ramos, M., Higuera Marín, F.A., J. Luna, B.A., Maya Albarrán, E.C., Montelongo Alfaro, I., Pérez Álvarez, K., Reyes Rivera, P., Rodríguez Martínez , N., Rudy García, J.M., Saenz Aguilar, Y.V., Velázquez Narváez, A.C., Vidal Ochoa, J., UTMART.

LANRESC Core Team ▼

Carmona Escalante, Armando, Gallegos Fernández, Sandra, Granados Martínez, K.P., Hernández Cristerna, M.J, López Alcántara, V., Morales Méndez, D, Ortigosa Gutiérrez, J.D., Pérez Rivera, E.F., Reyes Aguilar, A.X., Rodríguez González, M.P., Vázquez Verdín, J.M.

Project Leads ▼

Salles Afonso de Almeida, P., Ávila Foucat, V.S., Simões, N.

Graphic Designer ▼

Guerra, A.

Participants by sector

Government: 116; Academic: 37; CSO: 36; ND: 7; Private: 6

Participants by sector
116 Government
37 Academic
36 CSO
7 ND
6 Private

ABOUT THE REPORT CARD

The initiative ▼

This Report Card was developed from two virtual workshops held from November 6 to 8, 2024, and from October 8 to 10, 2025, with a total of 137 participants. A field phase was also carried out from March 15 to 22, 2025, with 65 participants interviewed and 7 key communities visited. The process followed the report card development guide by Costanzo et al. (2017), adapted by LANRESC.

Acknowledgements ▼

This Report Card was produced with funds from the subproject 'Development of five Report Cards in the Gulf of Mexico,' code UNOPS012, executed by the National Laboratory for Coastal Resilience (LANRESC) and administered by the Institute of Engineering of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), within the framework of the GoM SAP Implementation project, financed by the GEF and supported by UNEP, UNOPS, and SEMARNAT. It was co-financed by the Coordination of Scientific Research of UNAM. We thank CONANP and Pronatura Noreste for their support during fieldwork.

Legal notice ▼

The content of this document is intended for educational and general outreach purposes. The information was provided and validated by the workshop participants themselves. The data supporting this Report Card were collected as of November 21, 2025. The purpose of this tool is to support informed decision-making; however, decision-making should not be limited only to the information presented in this document.