WWF in Mexico - Marine
Gulf Of California
The Gulf of California, also known as Sea of Cortez, sustains a large number of marine mammals. Its 900 or more islands are important nesting sites for thousands of seabirds and its waters are primary breeding, feeding, and nursing grounds for a myriad of migratory and resident marine fish species.
Water pollution is a problem in the Gulf of California, but a more immediate concern is the overfishing and bottom trawling, which destroys eelgrass beds and shellfish.
In January 1999, WWF initiated an ambitious program in the Gulf of California ecoregion to improve management of existing protected areas, and identify the creation of new ones, to improve local and industrial fishing techniques and to participate in the conservation and recovery of key species such as the Vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus).
Creating protected marine reserves
Working in partnership with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, WWF in Mexico finalized a proposed network of marine reserves in the Gulf of California ecoregion. Over the next few years, WWF will work to have these priority areas declared and managed as no-fishing areas so that they may continue to protect threatened and endangered species and help replenish economically important fish stocks.
Success! San Pedro Mártir Island declared a Biosphere Reserve
In June 2003, San Pedro Mártir Island was declared a Biosphere Reserve by the Mexican Government. The decree includes a total surface of 30,165ha of marine and terrestrial portions that are now protected under federal government jurisdiction.
Due to its isolation and the absence of major predators, the area is an ideal location for blue-footed and brown boobies, and the third largest colony of sea lions in the Gulf of California. The marine area harbours rich marine life forms, 68 species of fish and 9 species of mammals such as the bottle noose dolphin, bryde whale, fin wale, pilot whale, and sperm whale among others.
Plans are underway to secure declarations for San Lorenzo Archipelago and Espíritu Santo Islands.The Mesoamerican Reef
The Mesoamerican Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world. It extends nearly 1,100km from the northern tip of Yucatan peninsula in Mexico to the Bay Islands of the coast of Honduras.
Associated with the Mesoamerican Reef ecoregion are extensive areas of coastal wetlands, lagoons, sea grass beds and mangrove forests that provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. Unusual geophysical features include the complex array of patch reefs and faros in a relatively deep shelf lagoon; the great diversity of reef types in a small geographical area; and the large offshore mangrove keys of marine origin.
The ecoregion features marine turtles, crocodiles, dolphins, more than 500 species of fish, the elusive whale shark and the largest population of manatees in the Western Caribbean.
Threats to the Mesoamerican Reef
Natural disturbances such as hurricanes are among the principal destructive agents of the Mesoamerican Reef. Tourism development and the lack of sewage and water treatment plants threaten the health of the coast, specifically coral formations.
