The recognition was awarded to the Pronatura Noroeste´s oceanologist by the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions

In Bahia de los Angeles more than 86% of the octopus production in Baja California is caught. This activity can generate an economic benefit of up to 8 million pesos.

With the vaquita marina porpoise dying out as bycatch in illegal fishing gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California, Vanda Felbab-Brown and Alejandro Castillo López outline key actions Mexico's government can take to restore seafood trade with the United States and save the vaquita in the process.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the National Commission of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CONAPESCA), established the Fisheries Management and Zoning Advisory Committee in Altata-Ensenada del Pabellón, Sinaloa. The creation of this committee guarantees a formal space to listen to the needs of fisherwomen and fishermen, with the aim of making the most appropriate decisions for sustainable management of fisheries for the benefit of their communities. 

Los Cabos

Los Cabos is the region at the end of the Peninsula of Baja California. Where the natural landscape and seascape are just spectacular – the desert meets the sea in San José del Cabo, and life shines with every wave.

The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) awarded Pronatura Noroeste the “Gary T. Myers Award” for its contributions to the conservation of birds in Northwest Mexico. The award ceremony was held on August 19, 2020 and was attended by several members of the international conservation community.

Recently, the Morena parliamentary group proposed to the Fisheries Commission an initiative that suggests empowering the Secretary of the Navy to propose, coordinate, and execute inspection and surveillance activities in matters of fisheries and aquaculture.

On May 1, 2020 the agreement establishing a temporary ban on chocolate clam fishing came into effect for a period of two years in the Altata-Ensenada del Pabellón Lagoon System in Sinaloa. This agreement was published the day before in the Official Newspaper of the Federation by the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (SADER). This ban, which has its basis in the technical opinions of the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INAPESCA), will be enforced by the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA). The temporary ban is mandatory for permit holders, concessionaires, captains, and/or fishing patrons, boaters, operators, technicians, fishermen, crew, and other subjects who conduct activities in marine waters under federal jurisdiction.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification and labeling program encourages the development of best fishing practices by recognizing and rewarding the fisheries that prove to be sustainable over time. Through the leadership of its partners, the MSC has the goal of reducing overfishing and increasing the number of sustainable fisheries worldwide.

The Advisory Council of the Federal Natural Protected Areas of the Great Islands Region of the Gulf of California appointed a new Chairman this past 21st of January. By a qualified majority, they chose Christian Portillo, who serves as the Project Coordinator for Pronatura Noroeste in Baja California.

“It’s very simple. You have to use the resource without finishing it off,” said Gustavo Danemann, Executive Director of Pronatura Noroeste, recalling the words of an El Coyote fisherman during one of the first site visits he made –in the Baja California peninsula–  23 years ago when he first started working for the organization. This visit gave rise to the first meeting on the responsible fishing of octopus, a product that is part of daily life on the Coast.

Today more and more consumers are concerned about the origin of their food. In the case of fish and seafood, in addition to freshness and quality, consumers primarily seek products that come for sustainable fisheries that reduce environmental harm. There are currently efforts being made to recognize fisheries for making improvements towards sustainability and allowing the end consumer to know the origin of the fish product.