Illegal Encerradores Continue to Destroy Reefs

Espritu Santo Island, a World Heritage Site, a Marine Protected Area and a Biosphere. You might think that would give the Island some protection against Illegal fishing. Think again, those designations are exactly what the illegal fishing community wants, as it makes it a private fishing ground for Illegal fishing with little competition. This will always be the case without vigilance and enforcement. The money spent over the years in Mexico making marine parks is wasted without vigilance and enforcement.

Last week on June 27th a Sea Watch observer saw this in one of the beautiful bays called Embudo next to the nuclear zone at Los Islotes. NOTE: This boat was caught again by Conapesca encerrando with hookah in October of 2015 near Pilot Rock on Espiritu Santo Island.

October 6, 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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SeaWatch Annual Raffle

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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