Marine Resources

While agro-industry and the tourism industry depend on available fresh water, the fishing sector depends on a healthy marine environment.[1]  The marine areas near Baja California Sur are considered the most productive zones in Mexico and among the most bio-diverse zones in the world.[2]  Coastal upwelling, water mass surges, and tidal circulation help create a marine environment that supports a large-scale primary productivity zone that feeds a whole array of species.[3]

As a consequence of the high marine productivity, Baja California Sur enjoys the largest volume of fishing resources in Mexico, and represents one of the four most important fishing regions of the world.[4] The state’s fleet – made up of approximately 4,000 vessels ─ however, accounts for just 3.5% of the national total and most of them are small boats (pangas) for small-scale coastal fishing, an activity that supports almost all of the small villages on both coasts.  650 species that can be used for human consumption and industrialization have been identified.  122 of them are currently being exploited; among them are pelagic fish (tuna, sardines, anchovies, shrimp, and giant squid).  Near-shore fishing relies on abalones and other medium and large gastropods (Cortez conch and panocha), lobster, clams (e.g. catarina, mano de león, hachet clam, Mule’s paw), rock oysters, octopus, crayfish, flake fish, sharks, and rays. Overall, fishing activities generate numerous jobs; production is estimated to be 9% of the national gross domestic product.[5]

According to local fishermen, over the past twenty years the major high commercial value resources (red snapper, leatherback bass, grouper, clams, and shark) have been over-exploited and depleted.  The causes of this depletion can be traced to several prevalent practices: the use of “chinchorro” nets during bottom trawling in enclosed areas, and the use of small mesh nets that catch juveniles when sailing adrift; illegal fishing, using spear guns and scuba diving equipment; incidental catches of juveniles of species that are of interest to coastal fishing (sea bream, leatherback bass, grouper, sole, etc.); and the arrival of fishermen from other states who want to maximize their earnings in the least amount of time possible. 

If carefully managed, aquaculture could be an attractive and economically viable option in Baja California Sur.  The state has native species with high socio-economic potential, including 18 species of shellfish with high commercial market value (e.g. oyster, scallops, mano de león oyster, abalone, pearl oyster, nacar shell, medium and large snails).[6] The paradox is that during the last five years, initiatives to install white shrimp farms (Magdalena-Almejas and La Paz Bay) have been submitted by private businessmen, disregarding available native species that might be better suited to local environmental conditions.  In addition, the state government and its research consultants are promoting the installation of yellowfin tuna, jurel, and sea bass farms in La Paz Bay, with foreign companies that have restrictions on aquaculture in their home regions and are looking for investment opportunities in Mexico.

Other species also depend on healthy fisheries in the Gulf of California.  The Gulf of California hosts more than one dozen cetacean species, including eight of the eleven known whale species that occur in the world.[7]  Sea turtles, dolphins, seals, and sea lions are just some of the other species that have resident and migratory populations in the Gulf of California.