Who SeaWatch Supports
SeaWatch supports those that are making a difference in the Marine Park at Espiritu Santo Island and in the bay of La Paz.
Espiritu Santo es Parte de Ti
This community initiative was started in 2015 with funding from SeaWatch in a bid to help restore the coral reef areas around the Espiritu Santo Archipelago.
“Espíritu Santo es parte de ti” is a local, grassroots campaign to restore the depleted reefs and reef fish in Espiritu Santo National Park by creating community pride and advocacy, promoting good practices and eliminating illegal fishing in the park.
- Our campaign goal is for:
Citizens of La Paz to take pride in Espiritu Santo National Park and help protect it by supporting citizen driven vigilance. Fishermen, tour operators and visitors to be aware of the rules and regulations of the park and report illegal fishing. Restaurants, markets and citizens of La Paz to promote responsible consumption of fish, avoiding species important to the ecosystem health of Archipelago Espiritu Santo such as reef critical parrotfish and surgeon fish.
Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (ROC)
The work of ROC is centered around providing nighttime vigilance around the Espiritu Santo Archipelago and in the Bay of La Paz against illegal fishing.
For the last 25 years, pistoleros and encerradores have stripped the reefs of most fish around Archipelago Espiritu Santo and in the Bay of La Paz.
This destruction stopped temporarily in 2009-2010 as a result of Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (or “ROC”), the first citizen-driven vigilance in the Bay of La Paz. In its first year of operation, ROC stopped the killing of over 500 tons of reef fish in the Bay of La Paz and the number of illegal boats was reduced from 29 to just 4.
Erendira Valle
Removing nets from the sea lions.
Whale Shark Mexico
Dra. Dení Ramírez Macías is the Director of Whale Shark Mexico/ Tiburón Ballena México, who has maintained whale shark research and protection in the Bay of La Paz since 2002. Their website is http://www.whalesharkmexico.com/
NOS
NOS has been working with the Manglito Community, where most of the illegal fishermen come from, to create new jobs, schooling and work alternatives for the fishermen and their families
Armando Figaredo
Armando Figaredo the Televisa “go to reporter when discussing the Sea of Cortez is a very valuable asset. We have worked together since 1994 reporting on the continuing destruction in the Sea of Cortes. Our latest reports with him are: Disentangling sea lions from fishermen’s nets
Vince Radice
http://worldsaquarium.com – While Vince operates out of Guaymas, his work on stopping the illegal fishing of Dorado is ground breaking and just recently he got them put on a US protected species list (IUU) so dorado from Mexico can’t be legally imported into the USA anymore.
SeaWatch Newsletters
What's New at SeaWatch:
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...
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!.
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...
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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How You Can Help Save the Sea of Cortez
Consume Responsibly
Abstain from eating all fish that protect the health of the reefs including parrotfish and surgeon fish
Report Illegal Activities
Be our "Eyes on the Water" take photos, record positions, and send reports to the authorities
Donate
Your donations contribute to the work of Espiritu Santo es parte de ti and the efforts of ROC