20 to 30 Tons of Reef Fish Killed Daily

Encerradores during the early years of this technique, around 2000-2005 cleaned out most of the reefs between La Paz and Loreto. There were up to 40 boats working. They would put their nets around the edge of the rocky reefs along the shore line and then drive fish into them by banging iron rebar onto the rocks and banging their oars on the bottom of the panga. In the early years each boat was getting about 1000 to 1500 kilos (1 to 1.5 tons) of reef fish each day. The practice while totally illegal was never prosecuted. The same boat with a different crew would work at night with pistoleros aboard taking about the same quantity of fish at night with harpoons. One boat with 4 divers and two compressor men in the panga (6 people total) were getting around  2000 to 3000 Kilos (2 tons to 3 tons of fish) in a 24 hour period. These boats are still working in the national park at Espiritu Santo Island outside La Paz and while the catch is much smaller over 90% of the reef fish are gone in the areas where they still work.

June 17, 2015

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SeaWatch Dream Come True

Since September of 2021, when our attorneys first petitioned the government to create large no take zones around Espiritu Santo National Park to facilitate reef and reef fish recovery, we have been building a dream team. A year later we have that team and a plan in place that is doing exactly that. To see the problem and solution. Click to view this short video...

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Scott Hanson donated his popular 19" bronze limited edition sculpture "Smooth Sailing" that retails between $7,700 and $9,250 depending on the gallery. Buy one or more tickets here. But hurry as only 150 raffle tickets will be sold!.

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Creating the Next Cabo Pulmo
Fisheries Recovery in the Sea of Cortez

Where there are fish of any commercial value, fishing interests will find a way to take them.
In 2019 and 2020 with the legalization of fish traps in the Espiritu Santo National Park (banned in most other places 30 years ago) it became clear that where there are fish, fishing interests will find a way to take them. Read More...

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Fish Traps Devastate Marine Environments

Watch this video to see the evidence of the devastation caused by fish traps on reefs and reef fish over time. These traps are legal in Mexico and tragically in Espiritu Santo National Park. To learn more about fish traps and see the devastation they cause Click Here...

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Sea Lions and Fish Nets

This video shows the entanglement of sea lions in fish nets and fishing gear in the Sea of Cortez. "Is this what we want in the Espiritu Santo National Park?"

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