The Gulf of California is a highly biodiverse sea in between the Baja Peninsula and mainland Northwestern Mexico. It is considered one of the 10 marine biodiversity hotspots of the world and is home to whale sharks, manta rays, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and at least 31 species of cetaceans. The Gulf’s fisheries, which include shrimp, squid, and tuna, account for 70% in volume and 50% in value of Mexico’s total fisheries landings, contributing $900 million to its economy each year. Reporting of detailed fisheries data as well as of bycatch of endangered and protected species like sea turtles in Mexican small-scale fisheries is currently not required by either the secretary of the environment or the fishing authorities. My research will seek to address this data gap by piloting a community-based data collection system with market incentives for improved fisheries monitoring in two states in the Gulf: Sinaloa and Sonora.
This is my masters project research - more information coming soon!
Fishing boats pulled up on shore in Guaymas, Sonora
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