San Basilio Bay is in the central part of the Gulf of California, located 52 kilometers north of Loreto, Baja California Sur. It is a site of remarkable scenery, geographic features, and numerous ecosystems with wide biodiversity. The area includes rocky reefs and sandy and rocky coasts, and a coastal strip with dunes, marshes, and mangroves, where the White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), a protected species by Mexican law, is the most representative of the area.
On the terrestrial side, there are arid scrublands, some seasonal lagoons, and freshwater pools such as those found in Mesa del Chato. From here, you can find several beaches used by sea turtles for nesting. Among them are the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), all considered endangered under Mexican Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.
Wildlife in San Basilio is threatened by tourism and extensive cattle ranching that damages the vegetation cover and pollutes water due to trampling and cattle excrement. Other risks include habitat encroachment, garbage, invasive species (such as domestic cats and dogs), and misuse of beaches. All of these pose a long-term conservation challenge. Counts of litter found in the bay have been conducted, showing a majority of plastic debris and metal objects and items derived from fishing gear.
Since the bay is not considered a Natural Protected Area, many efforts have been carried out to expose its vulnerability. As Pronatura Noroeste, we participated in a study conducted by various organizations in 2019 to record the biodiversity in both marine and coastal ecosystems of San Basilio Bay. As a result, 476 animal species were described, 80 of which are protected by Mexican law.
Some of the fish that inhabit the waters of San Basilio Bay are the Spiny Pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus) and the Stingray (Urobatis halleri), as well as others that are commercially important, such as the Sable Snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris), which swims in the sandy bottoms, and the colorful and unmistakable Triggerfish (Melichthys niger). Near-threatened species such as the Pacific Angelshark (Squatina californica), and other endangered species such as the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini), can also be found.
Terrestrial mammals common in San Basilio Bay include the Horned Dune Mouse (Chaetodipus arenarius) and the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereargenteus).
Let’s not allow this site to be lost due to threats to the ecosystem.
