Mission Statement:

To organize and mobilize the existing structure of federal and state authorities (Profepa, Armada & Pesca) as well as sports and commercial fishermen, To develop healthy ecosystems in the Sea of Cortes, stop illegal fishing activities and add and change regulations to rebuild stocks and control fishing effort so as to create sustainable fisheries, which will in turn create good paying jobs with a future.

Overview:

The program will be started here in La Paz, BCS. BCS is the friendliest environment for this type of work as it relies on tourism and sportsfishing not on commercial fishing. Also, through the hard work of many the Government (especially Governor Leonel Cota Montaña and Secretary of Development. Ernesto Lopez Cinco) understand and are working with us to make this program work It is here also that the funds from fishing licenses sold in BCS are available for vigilance and enforcement. This program has just been instituted by Governor Leonel Cota Montaña. There would be a director of Guardianes del Mar and probably initially two to four field agents located in an office in La Paz. The direct operational costs would be about $150,000/year for the entire program the first year.

Guardianes del Mar would entail:

• Guardianes del Mar would coordinate with the Navy, Conapesca and other governmental agencies and would work with them to identify fisheries problems and violations. The Navy has said they would supply boats and new lieutenants right out of school to help with the effort. The Navy admiral also wants to meet at the Navy base monthly with Guardianes, Sargarpa, Profepa and State officials to discuss results and prioritize programs.

• Guardianes would do field inspections of the major fish camps at Sargento, Los Frailes, San Evaristo, Loreto, Mag Bay, etc. to see what type and size fish are being caught by what methods. (looking for fish shot with harpoons illegal dorado and billfish landings etc.) Currently the markets are full of illegal Marlin from Longline boats. Guardianes would also set up people from the local area, or work with the Universities and schools to do followup fish counts information. Probably just by taking digital pictures of the fish on the scales and docks and recording them in a log book. This could easily be done by interested and involved students.

• Guardianes will also work not only with local fishermen, but with the yachting community. There will be easy reporting procedures (SSB, VHF and cellular communication 24 hours a day). If fishing methods are seen that appear to be damaging or illegal, they can immediately be reported and Guardianes will come with Federal and State people as soon as possible to take a full report or arrest violators. They will use assets of the Navy, the port Captain, local fishermen, foreign yachts, etc.

• When violations are found Guardianes will do the paperwork (demandas) needed to prosecute violators of fishing laws. They will be the official witnesses needed. Video and pictures are not permissible in Mexican courts without a witness.

• Guardianes would be responsible for checking to see that sports boats have fishing licenses and that they obey bag limits, like the 2 dorado/day. This limit is never obeyed by sportsman. They would make sure that the money collected by the sports fleets for licenses actually goes to licenses and not in the pocket of the sports fleet owners.

• Many of the local commercial fishermen have volunteered to take the inspectors to problem areas. They ask only for fuel reimbursement. Most honest local fishermen want the inspectors out there working so that there will be a chance for the Sea to recover.

• Guardianes would work with the Universities and local schools to do inspections and take pictures of the local fish markets, landing areas (like the docks of San Carlos in Mag. Bay) collect size and species data, to see changes in catches, species, sizes and prices. There is much historical information that can be collected as well as data on illegal catches.
• Giant Pacific Mantas often die in drift gillnets this time of year. These very valuable dive attractions that haven't been seen in La Paz or the east cape area for the last 3 years, but Sargento fishermen say they kill several each year in gillnets. Problems like this can easily be identified and addressed in bi monthly State Fisheries Council meetings held in La Paz or monthly in meetings that the Admiral wants to hold with Pesca officials, the Navy, Guardianes del Mar officials and state government officials.

• Focus existing infrastructure on problems: Look at the latest video:

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  This video exemplifies the problems. Here a highly illegal activity that the authorities condemned one year ago, and said would be stopped immediately, still continues today, unabated. Inspectors can bring back this type of video from the field and expose the problems. This kind of exposure will make authorities accountable, and will help to bring an immediate stop to illegal and destructive fishing practices.

• Local fishermen were very empowered by the capture of the Michoacan II off Cabo and the boat caught near Loreto this last summer. The empowerment that Guardianes del Mar will give them will be enormous. The honest local commercial fishermen feel helpless. They need desperately to see hope from a current Government that appears paralyzed. If they see hope they will be your strongest allies for fisheries reform and reform will spread like wild fire.

• The Guardianes program will not be there to replace fisheries (pesca) or any other agencies working on fisheries problems. They will be there as facilitators to help make things happen and to get the civil society involved. As we all know, fisheries inspection is undermanned, and under funded. There is an attitude that nothing can be done. Guardianes will help them with their work, energize them, get them involved and praise them for jobs well done.

• Guardianes will be overseen by the civil society and it.s oversight board will include foreigners that are willing to involve themselves with time and money.