Legendary diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau once described
Mexico’s Sea of Cortez (or the Gulf of California) as "the aquarium of the
world," home to a tremendous array of marine life. Perhaps nowhere is this
more true than the Midriff Islands, an uninhabited archipelago located in the
Sea of Cortez’s central region that has a nickname of its own: "the
Galapagos of the Northern Hemisphere.” Whales, whale sharks, sea lions, jumping
mobula rays and five species of endangered sea turtles can all be found in this
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sadly, the Midriff Islands’ abundant reefs and thriving
marine habitat attract illegal and unsustainable fishing practices, which
threaten their continued protection.
That’s why WildAid and partners are taking our proven marine
protection model to Mexico. With the support of Helmsley Charitable Trust,
Pronatura Noroeste, the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature and
Niparaja, we will soon embark on a full assessment of the Midriff Islands'
marine protected area, which will guide how to create a comprehensive control
and vigilance plan for the region.
The new project includes testing enforcement strategies on
the Baja California peninsula and two high-level peer exchanges between Mexican
and Ecuadorian environmental officials. Expected to roll out in late 2016, this
pilot program will also feature innovative technology and multi-agency patrols
that can be replicated throughout Mexico’s coastal protected areas.
In November, WildAid, the Ecuadorian Minister of the
Environment and the Galapagos National Park Service hosted the first week-long
peer exchange with a visit from Mexican officials. Since 2002, we’ve helped to
strengthen enforcement of the 51,000-square-mile Galapagos Marine Reserve;
today, it’s one of the best-protected marine reserves in the developing world.
But marine animals from humpback whales to olive ridley sea
turtles migrate through the coastal regions of multiple nations, which is why
it’s crucial that WildAid and our partners strive for better protections
throughout Latin America. In this inaugural peer exchange, high-level
representatives from Mexico’s Navy and environmental/fisheries agencies met
with their Ecuadorian counterparts to share best practices for effective marine
reserve management, including long-term budgetary considerations and improved
inter-agency collaboration.
Ecuadorian officials also showcased surveillance equipment
to monitor the Galapagos Marine Reserve and discussed the benefits of
inter-agency cooperation between the Ecuadorian Navy and Galapagos National
Park Service in patrolling the region, which has led to the apprehension and
prosecution of approximately 100 illegal fishing vessels over the last seven
years. The two nations will reconvene in the fall for a second exchange, where
Mexican officials will demonstrate their own enforcement approach and report on
key action points.
In addition to our project in Mexico, and with the support
of our donors, WildAid plans to work on the following new projects in 2016:
Assess enforcement and management of the Jardines de La
Reina in Cuba to protect its pristine coral ecosystems.
Use findings from an assessment of Palau’s enforcement
system to implement oceanic and near-shore pilot projects. We will test new
oceanic surveillance technologies in Palau’s national waters, as well as near-shore
surveillance in the Northern Reefs test site.
Support sea turtle and manta conservation projects in
coastal Ecuador.
Further Reading:
WildAid's Marine Protection Program Initiatives
Article and images sourced from http://wildaid.org/news/wildaids-marine-program-expands-mexico
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