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 (Arreguín-Sánchez) and is home to whale sharks, manta rays, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and at least 31 species of cetaceans (Urbán 2017). 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 (Munguia-Vega et al 2018). Anywhere from 10,000 to 24,000 small-scale fishing boats operate in the area depending on the season (Frawley et al 2021). However, with demand for seafood increasing globally, this fishing pressure has become unsustainable, threatening livelihood stability and ecosystem health. According to a study from Johnson et al (2017), “17,839 boats were operating in an area that can only sustain 13,277 boats to maximize the benefits of catching more fish per trip.” Additionally, both commercial and small-scale fishing techniques in the Gulf have scaled and become more efficient, and therefore less selective of the species they remove from the marine habitat. Sometimes marine megafauna, like porpoises, sharks, and turtles, which are not the primary target of the fishery, are caught and killed in the process. This “bycatch” is either discarded if there is no market, or sold illegally. Either way, this poses a threat to the marine ecosystem, given marine megafauna’s important role in ocean health. Reporting of detailed fisheries data as well as bycatch of endangered and protected species like sea turtles and sharks in Mexican small-scale fisheries (SSF) is currently not required by either the secretary of the environment or the fishing authorities. My research will seek to address this data gap for improved fisheries monitoring and management in two states in the Gulf.
This is my masters project research - more information coming soon!
Cortez conch caught by a dive fisher
Usamos cookies para analizar el tráfico del sitio web y optimizar tu experiencia en el sitio. Al aceptar nuestro uso de cookies, tus datos se agruparán con los datos de todos los demás usuarios.