The Latin American Alliance for Sustainable Fisheries and Food Security, also known as ALPESCAS, has expressed "deep concern" over the increasing violence associated with criminal groups following the murder of a top fishing industry executive.

Minerva Perez Castro, the president of Baja California's delegation to the Mexican National Chamber of Fishing and Aquaculture Industries, was brutally murdered in Ensenada earlier this week. Perez was a staunch opponent of the infiltration of criminal syndicates in Mexican fisheries.

According to Alpescas, the act of violence can be related to cartels or mafias that operate with illegal fishing.

The group's president, Osciel Velasquez, condemned the murder and highlighted the gravity of the situation.

"We are determined to combat illegal fishing, which is the third most lucrative illicit activity in the world after drug and arms trafficking. It is a dangerous crime that causes significant harm to the population, ecosystem, and public health," he said in a statement sent to Undercurrent News.

Illegal fishing is a major global issue, with an estimated 26 million tons of fish and other marine resources being captured illegally each year, Alpescas said. 

In response to the murder, Alpescas has called on Latin American governments and authorities to intensify their efforts to combat illegal fishing and the criminal networks behind it. Velasquez emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and justice for Perez, urging regional cooperation to protect responsible and sustainable fishing practices.

Alpescas signed an agreement in June 2023, known as the Panama Agreement, with member countries including Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. This agreement aims to eradicate illegal fishing and strengthen the monitoring and control of foreign fleets operating in adjacent waters.

The agreement encourages national governments to enhance their legislation and improve their enforcement efforts to prevent illegal fishing activities and to adhere to the principles of responsible fishing promoted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Alpescas said that Perez played a crucial role in advocating for better nutrition and health through sustainable fishing practices, with her recent public denunciation of the increase in illegal fishing in Baja California underscoring her commitment to the cause.