SeaWatch: 2015 in Review

The year began with a SeaWatch sponsored fishing regulation banning compressed air for all fish extraction nationwide becoming the law of the land. This now illegal technique has destroyed most of the reef fish and reefs in the Sea of Cortez over the last 15 years (See: Barren Reefs). This new regulation rejuvenated a very successful vigilance program SeaWatch introduced with strong local support in 2009. By 2011 this program had stopped over 80% of the illegal fishing but over the last two years has suffered from lack of support and sanctions from fisheries authorities. With the new law in hand SeaWatch set out to create public support for stopping these destructive activities that continue to severally impact the Marine Park at Espiritu Santo Island (See: Espiritu Santo marine park in trouble). We will start 2016 with the clear goal of making, with public support, the “The Marine Park at Espiritu Santo Island” the next Cabo Pulmo, which is currently the only successful marine park in the Sea of Cortes. Our original focus for success, our guiding light, is this: Depleted fisheries can only recover if there are clear regulations designed to stop predatory fishing practices, there is vigilance, the regulations are enforced evenly and thus a respect for them is developed within the public and fishing communities. This is what we decided years ago and it is more true than ever today.

In 2015, we were finally able to get Federal legislation passed that prohibits commercial fishing with hookah or any other compressed air. Sea Watch Director, Maria Ugarte, introduced the legislation in 2009 and it took until January 21, 2015 to get it published in the Diario Oficial, making it the law of the land. The use of hookah or any form of compressed air is now illegal for any fish extraction in all Mexican waters. These compressed air techniques have destroyed the majority of reef fish in the Sea of Cortes over the last 15-20 years. The La Paz Bay was losing 20 tons of reef fish a day 15 years ago. This legislation will be a major tool to reverse this process. (See: Barren Reefs )

The vigilance program Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizen Observers) was initiated by Sea Watch and introduced in 2009 with strong local partners. While very successful in its first two years, stopping over 80% of the illegal fishing in the La Paz area (See: OC stops illegal fishing) it became less effective in the last 2 years due to a lack of support and sanctions by the fisheries authorities. This forced us to rethink our approach and to develop methods of communication with the local community and get their help in pressuring Conapesca authorities to do their job and to overtly condemn illegal and destructive fishing practices.

This includes redoing our online presence (seawatch.org) and social media presence on Facebook. We are engaging the local people and getting their help to preserve their sea and the beautiful Espiritu Santo Marine Park in the Bay of La Paz (Espiritu Santo Marine Park in trouble) It is our goal to help make the Marine Park at Espiritu Santo the next Cabo Pulmo, which is the only truly successful marine park in the Sea of Cortes. First proposed by Sea Watch 5 years ago the idea is now a focus of several prominent local NGO’s.

In 2015 Sea Watch supported the following groups that work in the Bay of La Paz on projects that protect its’ resources and communicate with the public to get their support: SeaWatch supported projects.

This statement made to me in 1982 by Paul Armond, the then Director of the French project in Puerto Escondido has never been more true and has helped set our course for involving the public in 2016 , “No ecological problem will ever be solved until it becomes a political problem and it will never become a political problem until public opinion demands it”.

Happy Holidays,
Mike McGettigan – Founder
December 2016

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What's New at SeaWatch:

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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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