Baja California's Pacific and the Sea of Cortez

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Baja California's Pacific and the Sea of Cortez

The nutrient-rich waters of the Pacific Ocean off Baja California and the Sea of Cortez in Mexico attract marine life and people to an epicenter of biodiversity.

To protect and strengthen this marine treasure, the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and Beta Diversidad, a Mexican conservation group, are working with local communities, fishermen groups, nongovernmental organizations, and scientists to advocate for establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) spanning across the Sea of Cortez and into the Pacific.

Industrial fishing has driven declines in fish populations in this part of Mexico. It also has led to the depletion of shark populations and the collapse of the sardine industry. Such threats to these waters imperil the vibrant ecosystem of this region and the communities along the Sea of Cortez and the Southern Baja Peninsula, where livelihoods depend on small-scale fishing.

The proposed MPA would be fully protected and circle the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Without the pressure of industrial fishing, fish populations could grow within this area and spill over beyond its boundaries. Bordering the MPA would be zones where industrial fishing is prohibited, but artisanal and recreational fishing, diving, and wildlife observation would be allowed.

Protecting these regions would safeguard rich marine life and sustain the resources that have long supported local economies.