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ROC

Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizens Observer Network) 

In 2009 there were 28 boats working as pistoleros and encerradores.
After the formation of OC there were only 4 boats working part time.

Since the early 1990s, pistoleros and encerradores have stripped the reefs of most fish around Espiritu Santo and in the Bay of La Paz. Pistoleros dive with compressed air and harpoon fish while they sleep at night. Encerradores use compressed air and drive fish into nets located on reefs during the day. Mexican law prohibits using any form of compressed air to extract fish from the ocean.

In 2009 Sea Watch helped start and fund a group called Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizen Observers). The OC program, with former pistoleros running the patrol boat was successful beyond what many imagined. In its first year of operation, OC 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.

2013 ROC Patrol Boat

In 2013, Sea Watch helped the OC program become independent. The new entity was called Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizens Observer Network) or ROC. ROC is dedicated to the surveillance and protection of the natural areas of Balandra, Espíritu Santo and Bahía de La Paz. They are citizen observers who seek to prevent illegal activities through awareness and citizen participation. Their work is based on a collaboration with the users of the Bay of La Paz and with the authorities. ROC has also been licensed as the La Paz Waterkeeper by the Waterkeeper Alliance which is made up of several organizations whose aim is to protect bodies of water for the health and well-being of their users and citizens.

In 2018 ROC traveled over 23,000 km and spent
over 3,000 hours on the water and in the Bay of La Paz.

In 2013 SeaWatch funded over $15,000 to update, remodel and power ROC’s new bigger and much safer night patrol boat. The ROC patrol boats do night and day vigilance patrols in the Bay of La Paz. Their normal patrol is 2 days and 2 nights and they travel about 150 miles. The boat is run by ex-pistoleros (illegal fishermen) who are used to running boats at night without lights and know where the illegal boats fish.

Beginning in 2017, ROC patrol boats worked with CONAPESCA (the federal fisheries authority) leading to the confiscation of 13 illegal fishing boats including equipment and catch. 

In 2018, SeaWatch provided almost $20,000 to ROC for a new 175 HP motor and patrol boat making it possible to chase down illegal fishermen and increasing ROC's surveillance in the Bay of La Paz. This boat is bigger allowing the boat to carry ROC's captain and staff, along with authorities from federal fisheries and the Navy. In 2018, ROC traveled over 23,000 km and spent over 3,000 hours on the water in the Bay of La Paz. By the end of 2018 no illegal fishing had been encountered. While this boat will add approx $45,000 (fuel and direct labor) to our annual operating costs it will be critical to have as the large increases in reef fish will also create large increases in illegal fishing activity.

2018 New ROC Patrol Boat

Also in 2018, in response to the tourist closure at Los Islotes ROC collaborated with CONANP (in charge of marine parks and islands) to set up a temporary base camp. For 75 days, staff from ROC and CONANP patrolled the protected area night and day, making contact with an average of 55 boats a day and over 26,000 tourists total, sharing information about the new regulations and reasons for the closure.

In 2018, ROC was recognized by the Mexican Government, through the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, as one of the most important environmental organizations for nature conservation in protected areas, awarding it an Honorary Mention in the "Reconocimiento a la Conservación de la Naturaleza" national award. ROC was also recognized as a model non-profit conservation organization by the Senate.

ROC's citizen-driven ROC vigilance in collaboration with State and Federal authorities produced outstanding results.
In 2017, 13 pangas and equipment were confiscated by federal fisheries.
Two pangas with all equipment and catch confiscated.
These are reef critical parrotfish aboard pistolero boats (boats shooting fish at night using compressed air which is illegal) All catch is confiscated.


It is our goal at SeaWatch to work with and continue to fund ROC to maintain high-quality vigilance of the Bay of La Paz and the Espiritu Santo National Park where illegal activities are a constant threat to successful regeneration.

Visit the ROC website


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What's New at SeaWatch:


2023 SeaWatch Newsletter

We are continuing our 2023 efforts to fully protect the inshore reefs in Espíritu Santo National Park through modification of its Management Plan. The draft plan will be out soon for review and it's critical we apply more pressure for better protection. 

Ever since Cabo Pulmo National Park was created 27 years ago there has not been another reef fish recovery in the Sea of Cortez. To that end, we are launching the second phase of our campaign with a multimedia public strategy modeled after the very successful effort to protect the whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz. Read On...


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 Recovery Plan Details

This project will be the first recovery project in the Gulf of California since Cabo Pulmo, 27 years ago. It will restore the marine biodiversity of Archipielago Espíritu Santo National Park to a high level of abundance and reef recovery through modification to the park’s management plan and the deployment of policy and conservation finance strategies. Read More...


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!.



Espíritu Santo National Park
Recovery Project

Unsustainable, unregulated and illegal fishing practices during the last 40 years have severely impacted the diversity and richness of the Gulf of California, once considered the “Aquarium of the World”.
This national sea, dotted with more than 800 islands, is an ecologically unique marine ecosystem, and these island coastlines are environments used by marine species to complete all or part of their life cycle Read More...


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...


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


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