The Campeche coastal zone in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico has long been shaped by fisheries and oil industries, impacting both the environment and local communities. Home to vital protected areas like Laguna de Términos, the region faces challenges from industrial activities affecting biodiversity. This study examines key critical historical events, focusing on significant data related to fisheries and oil production, the legal and institutional framework, and the social actors involved. It addresses the resultant environmental and social challenges, as well as the management and conservation efforts that have been made. Furthermore, it explores the dynamics between the fisheries and oil sectors and Natural Protected Areas, considering both cooperation and conflict, along with the consequences for biodiversity conservation and sustainable coastal development. Over the last 50 years, coastal regions have undergone drastic changes, which have affected biodiversity and the vital ecosystem services that coastal environments provide. A major event in the region’s oil history was the Ixtoc-I spill in 1979, which severely affected marine life and fisheries. Despite PEMEX’s mitigation efforts, oil-related incidents continue to threaten ecosystems and public health. The 2013 energy reform introduced private investment, leading to social unrest over environmental and community concerns.