The Mexican government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has made public on February 15th the Octopus Fishing Management Plan for the Eastern Coast of Baja California, which represents a historic achievement to strengthen the octopus fishery in the region, and an example to promote fishing management in Baja California and northwestern Mexico.
This important secretarial agreement promotes the responsible use of both the Brown octopus (Octopus bimaculatus) and the Green octopus (Octopus hubbsorum), that inhabits the Bahia de los Angeles region and other Gulf of California´s areas. Its publication in the Federal Official Gazette is the result of a process of a community action of inhabitants of Bahia de Los Angeles and El Barril, Baja California, with the federal government through the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INAPESCA), the state government, scientific research institutions, and the support of civil organizations such as Pronatura Noroeste. The agreement contemplates actions aimed at maintaining octopus populations at sustainable productivity levels, preventing overexploitation and damage to the ecosystem, promoting conservation and sustainable use, reducing environmental impacts on the habitat and marine ecosystem, and preserving economic benefits for the fishermen.
It is estimated that more than 80% of octopus production in Baja California occurs within the Bahia de Los Angeles Biosphere Reserve, Canales de Ballenas and Salsipuedes, and San Lorenzo Archipelago National Park, which are protected natural areas on the state´s eastern coast. This activity has a direct impact on communities such as Bahia de Los Angeles and El Barril, which receive support from different agencies such as the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and Pronatura Noroeste, towards the conservation of natural resources, and promoting their proper use and exploitation. It should be noted that octopus fishing represents between 60 and 100% of the economic income for more than 200 families that live there.
Since the publication of the Octopus Management Plan, it is the responsibility of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CONAPESCA) to ensure its implementation, monitoring and evaluation, so that these species´s fishery is developed in a sustainable manner, through the installation of a Fishery Management Committee that involves the communities and updates the Management Plan every three years.
At Pronatura Noroeste we celebrate that the interests of the people of Bahia de los Angeles, El Barril and other locations have transcended beyond the local to become formalized in a far-reaching public policy. Going forward, we will remain attentive to the fulfillment of this agreement, in a co-management scheme with the fishermen of the area, government agencies and civil society, always interested in the natural resources and environmental conservation of our region.
