Poor management and overfishing corrupt once-pristine waters
Jill Replogle
Chronicle Foreign Service
November 8, 2003
Guasimas, Mexico -- Mike McGettigan, an American sportfisherman and diver, has been drawn to the rugged beauty and marine-rich waters of the Gulf of
California for 30 years.
"I've watched it go from the richest sea I've ever swam in to the deadest sea I've ever swam in," said McGettigan, who founded the environmental
watchdog group Sea Watch in 1994 to help focus attention on the waters, also known as the Sea of Cortez.
Destructive fishing practices, poor resource management, unclear regulations and official corruption have turned him into a born-again
conservationist.
The sea, which has long enchanted such writers as John Steinbeck and Edward Abbey, is home to 875 fish species and 30 species of marine mammals.
Nearly half the world's cetaceans, including whales and porpoises, migrate to the gulf to give birth in its warm, plankton-rich waters. Baja
California towns such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Loreto thrive on tourists, many of whom are Californians.
But in recent years, Mexican commercial fishermen searching for sailfish, tuna, marlin, billfish and dorado (mahi-mahi) have decimated marine life
with "longlines" that can stretch up to 50 miles and hold thousands of baited hooks.
And smaller boats use gill nets -- large nylon webs that are banned by the European Union and the United States. Gill nets are legal in Mexico with a
special permit, and longlines are legal to buy, sell and own but illegal to use.
Overfishing has affected not only the marine environment but the local economy -- an estimated 150,000 families earn their livelihood from the Sea of
Cortez. "If it weren't for the (maquiladora export) factories, there would be no work for young people because there aren't any fish," said
79-year-old Hilario Amarillas, founder of a Yaqui Indian fishing cooperative in Guasimas, a village on the gulf's northeastern coast.
Some critics blame former President Carlos Salinas, who deregulated Mexican commercial fishing in 1992 without creating an effective system of
licensing and permits. At least 12,000 unregulated fishing boats ply the Sea of Cortez, according to federal officials.
Faced with the prospect of a dying sea, an unlikely alliance of American conservationists, Mexican marine biologists, local residents and sport
fishermen have pressured the Mexican government to enforce the nation's law against unlicensed boats and longlines that entrap sharks, sea turtles,
sea lions, manta rays and porpoises along with the legal catch. There is no penalty for an "incidental" catch in Mexican law.
John Brakey, executive director of the U.S.-Mexico Friends of the Sea of Cortez, estimates that 6,000 shrimp fishermen use 13,000 gill nets. Most use
small, flat-bottomed boats called pangas, and only one-third are legally registered, he says.
Carlos Villavicencia, a marine biologist at the Autonomous University of Southern Baja California in La Paz, estimates that the shark population in
the Sea of Cortez has declined between 70 and 80 percent in the past two decades.
Wallace J. Nichols, a turtle researcher and co-director of WILDCOAST, a California-based conservation team, says some 40,000 turtles are killed
annually by nets or poachers. Moreover, the Vaquita porpoise, which is endemic to the Gulf of California, has dwindled to less than 600, according to
Lorenzo Rojas, coordinator of Mexico's Conservation Program at the National Ecology Institute. The world's smallest porpoise, it is on the World
Conservation Union's most critically endangered list.
Between July and September, gill nets captured international headlines after five whales were found trapped at different locations in the Sea of
Cortez. Among them were a mother sperm whale found by sport fishermen 30 miles from the tourist town of San Carlos entangled in a net near her dead
calf, which had died from hunger after being unable to nurse.
American fisherman Mark Ward heard the cries of the mother whale and jumped in with just a mask, snorkel and knife to free her. When he also became
entangled in the net underwater, he tried to saw his leg off until the netting suddenly unraveled. He swam to safety and saved his leg. The whale swam
off trailing the net.
Jose Alfredo Bahena, an official for Sonora's National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing, says his state is so strapped for resources that it
monitors fishermen by borrowing their boats. And Luis Fueyo, Mexico's top official for protection of the marine environment, says he has only 120
inspectors to patrol Mexico's 6,835 miles of coastline and more than one million square miles of ocean.
"The Sea of Cortez is like the wild, wild West," said Vince Redence, owner of the Sonoran Sport Center in San Carlos. "You can do anything you want
and the odds that someone will stop you are one in a hundred."
Environmentalists say corruption makes it difficult to regulate the fishing industry. They point to official waivers to catch shark called
"experimental permits" that allow longlines inside Mexico's 50-mile noncommercial fishing zone. They say it is a ploy to catch dorado and billfish and
fill the pockets of corrupt officials, who solicit bribes in exchange for the permits.
Jose Carlos Jimenez, secretary for the Senate Commission on Environment, Natural Resources and Fishing, said enforcement of Mexican law is a question
of "political will," adding that "personal economic interests by some officials make chaos and loose regulation a desirable situation."
"The fishing fleet places and removes governors," said Villavicencia.
Nevertheless, U.S. and Mexican conservation groups say their political allies are increasing. The governor of Baja California Sur, Leonel Cota, has
agreed to create a joint commission with the federal government to improve management of Baja's waters. Cota has also offered subsidized gasoline to
fishermen who register their boats.
And in another move that has delighted conservationists, Jeronimo Ramos, the director of the National Commission of Marine Culture and Fishing
(CONAPESCA), was removed from his post in September. Critics had accused Ramos of kowtowing to the fishing lobby.
The Sea of Cortez "has been beaten to death," said Donald Thomson, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona Ecological and Evolutionary Biology
Department. "It's still kicking, but it needs a lot of help." Skeet/Loreto - 11-9-2003 at 08:35 AM
"And the Farmer Hauled another Load away"
Skeet/Loreto
Home of the best Fishing in the World.Dave - 11-9-2003 at 10:36 PM
"Jose Alfredo Bahena, an official for Sonora's National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing, says his state is so strapped for resources that it
monitors fishermen by borrowing their boats. And Luis Fueyo, Mexico's top official for protection of the marine environment, says he has only 120
inspectors to patrol Mexico's 6,835 miles of coastline and more than one million square miles of ocean."
How is it that Mexico can't afford to protect this valuable natural resource yet somehow finds the cash to fund military checkpoints to prevent P-nche
gringos their daily fix?
I don't know whether your eyes still work, Skeet,
Stephanie Jackter - 11-9-2003 at 11:58 PM
but I see very clearly with my eyes the decimation they're talking about. Snorkelling in Cabo Pulmo this summer, I swear I saw a tenth of the fish I
saw there ten years ago and not one piece of coral in the same area that hadn't been raped of all it's life and beauty since the last time I'd been
there.
What part of that article didn't you believe? The part about the numbers of long lines? The part about the numbers of gill nets? The numbers of
"bi-catch" being killed by all those killing contraptions along with the intended kills amounts to a holocaust happening just under the water all over
the Sea of Cortez. Is that a bunch of bull, to be taken out or something to be taken quite seriously?
You seem to think that if you pay no heed to the insanity around you, it won't really be happening. Just some kind of bad dream us "younguns" made up
and are trying to shove down your throat....Gee.
The goose that lays the golden eggs is being slaughtered and so many of us stand around seeing and hearing no evil cause it would just be too
inconvenient to have to work up enough of a sweat to care.
Thank you, whoever you are, for posting that very informative and incredibly sad article. Keep 'em coming. If those who do not wish to see are at
least not allowed to forget what others do see so clearly , maybe someday there will be some conscious recognition of the reality that stares so
coldly back from our dying oceans. We can only hope we're not looking at the reflection of our own destiny as well in those dark pools. - Stephanie
- StephanieSkeet/Loreto - 11-10-2003 at 10:21 AM
Steph. There is no I mean no truth to the wordes of the Article.Cannot you see from the words and Phases used and the words and Phases that there is
no Basis of Fact.
I would suggest that you read the very sad report as to the Sierra Clubs Rape and Dis information about the Kalamath River Basisn.
Farmers lost ther land and living because of the Spin and Power of that Spin and the infomation came pout to be FALSE FALSE!!
I to have snorkeled at the reef in Cabo Pulmo.
Have you seen the numbers of fish caught this past Summer in and around Loreto??
Scientist report
Stats show that
It is widley known
Are cop outs to the Truth. It is the same Spin that is now in use by Mcaullife of the Dem. Party to try to win the Election.
I will,not dispute the fact that you have been to the Reefs and it is less than you saw 10 years ago. The reson I will not dispute you is that I have
not been there in several years,
Now as to the great Area around Loreto. I Have been on those waters for years, They are still the best in the World and why not let us hear from the
fisherman , not the Libral Adacemia PHD's who have never seen the Sea Of Cortez or its Waters.
Ask Capt. Geroge. La Terejria, Fishin Rich, Acc Doc. Pescador, and all the Knowledge people who can talk about Facts!!!!!
Does it not stand to REASON that if the fishing was so bad that Ty Miller and PamBoles and Artero Sucery and numbers of other would be out of business
and many Mexicano people would not have fish to eat?
Steph. It is time to go ahead to teaching our children that there is a Great world out there.
, That responsibility is much better than 'Lack of Responsibility' to a life of Boose, Drugs.fighting, and 'If it feels good Do It. Life.!
God Bless America and You
Skeet/Loreto
I completely agree with this article...
flyfishinPam - 11-10-2003 at 01:55 PM
...and I am in the sport fishing business in the Sea of Cortes. As we move forward I am trying to figure out how to do what I can to keep what we
have left. But the pragmatic side of me is making sure I teach my young ones skills that they can use to go into another line of work, because even
though we have it now, if all of the above remains true, we won't have it for much longer.Skeet/Loreto - 11-10-2003 at 02:08 PM
Pam : I am surprise that you agree with the Article.
Is the agreement with the article and the 90% Devestation of the waters the reason that your fishing income is down or is it the Fact that the
Fisherman are not coming in the numbers as in the Past.
Also I have been reading the posts about the number of fish coming out of Loreto. Ty does not seem to show a 90% decline; It would be interesting to
do a survey to see the amounts of fish you are catching to amount of fish being taken by Locals and other fisherman
How is the Shrimping?Those are beautiful Phots of all those deleted stocks. Keep on Trucking and Good Fishing!!
Well actually...
flyfishinPam - 11-10-2003 at 02:19 PM
Our sales and income continue to rise with each year, but our client base differs from the other operations here. We are drawing from a completely
different marketplace altogether. Do you respect the writings and reserch of Gene Kira, and have you ever read Baja Catch? Check out his words
comparing the past and present on the fishery that is the Sea of Cortes and the Loreto area. Just because we are catching fish now, does not mean the
fishery is not in trouble and that the catches will not decline. I do believe we should conserve what is available to us now as it won't be here
indefinately if we keep on the current trend.Anonymous - 11-10-2003 at 04:14 PM
Pam, Thank you for your first hand , real time perspective on this issue.
Pam. Yes I know and respect Gene Kira and yes I have read the Baja Catch,
And Pam as I have swaid before there is a difference in 40 20 amd 10 years ago. I started in 1968.Fut again to say that 90% deleted stocls is not
Spin it is a False Statement which is proven every day as more and more fish are caught in the Sea Of Cortez.
In your own words "We are taking fish now" I suggest that under the present Fish Limit you will be catching the same amount of Fish in the next 20
years.
I yo believe we should only catch a certain number of fish each time out.
But to imply that the Sea Of Cortez devestated to 90-% is si,mply Not True.Skeet/Loreto
Where is the Pro0f that stocks are
depleted.?
As I go through the various Magizines, Fishing Board, and discussion boards all I see are pictures and stories of fish being caught. And when I talk
to my many friends in Loreto and the Area they report lots of fish but no Fisherman.
I thunk that the Evnior=nuts are taking the Fact that 20 years ago there would be as many as 80 Pangas getting Bait every morning during the season
now you are lucky if there are 20 Pangas.. They put a Spin on the story saying that there are less fish when in Fact it is less fisherman.
Until such time when I cannot go out fishing and catch all the fish I want I must maintain that Proof is necessary!!!
Good Fishing Skeet/Loreto
The big enviro power and money machine!
Anonymous - 11-10-2003 at 10:40 PM
The present day enviro mevment is about power and money. The Sierra Club, Wilderness Society etc. are "big business" with big staff counts, big fat
payrolls, huge paychecks for the clowns at the top whom then wield a scary amount of political enfluence via their democrat puppets.
The fuel for this big machine is "crisis". Without crisis the entire eco-power process comes to a grinding halt.
And if crisis isn't real, then it must be manufactured.
The big paychecks, big head counts and big political power must endure regardless of the effect on society.
For starters in validation of this position, Consider that not a single plant or creature listed on the endangered species list has been removed from
same regardless of the stability of the creature/plant.
Cannot see or will not see.
Stephanie Jackter - 11-10-2003 at 10:59 PM
You just gave some proof about the depletion of fishing stocks without even knowing it, Skeet. The reason there are less fishermen is that they can
no longer make a decent living at it! Over half the fleet in Rocky Point has given up fishing because the stocks just aren't there enough to
economically support the activity. Canneries are closing. There's lots of scientific evidence that fishing stocks all over the world are being
depleted, but no matter what evidence is provided, I'm afraid some people will still choose not to see the truth until the last fish is gone.
I'm not a scientist. All I can tell you is what I've seen. Does it matter whether there are 30% less fish right now than in 1960 or 80%? Either
way, at the current rate of destruction, there will be extinction of many, if not most breeds within another 50 to 70 years if current commercial
fishing habits are not curtailed drastically.
How far does it have to go before we take action, Skeet? The sad fact is that long lines and gill nets rape the sea, especially when used by
thousands of boats. Something's gotta give, and trust me, it will. - Stephanieyosemitejim - 11-11-2003 at 06:51 AM
There is no question that the marine environment and associated fisheries in the Sea of Cortez have declined dramatically. I have been a regular
traveler to Baja for over 40 years.
To dispute this is ridiculous.
Respectfully,
JimAnonymous - 11-11-2003 at 08:49 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by yosemitejim
To dispute this is ridiculous.
Respectfully,
Jim
And Paul Ehrlich the "Bug Sceientist" whom warned of an impending Ice Age before he got on the Global Warming scam is the "know all God and prophet"
right?
Whatever the crisis, real or manufactured the eco-guilt corporations will stretch it to the max to subvert their power into our society. It's you
choice to be a lemming or not.Anonymous - 11-11-2003 at 09:11 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Stephanie Jackter
I'm not a scientist.
NO chit!
Now get off the horse where "you think" that depletion is real yet you are comfortable to support and effect change without scientific evidence from
anything more than eco-guilt corporation funded tools.Skeet/Loreto - 11-11-2003 at 09:44 AM
Step. You missed it again!! Less fisherman will produce less Fish.
Reasons for less Fisherman as follows:
The Eco-nuts and Kayack bunch were able to Clsoe the Waters 25 miles around Loreto!
The Milatry but a boat directly in Front of Loreto and started Harrassing the Fisherman!
The Local Govt. set up a Fishing Lic. boo boo that made it difficult and expensive to fish. Also a $5.00 Day use fee for the socalled Marine Reserve!!
The above are all Facts!!
I would strongly sugest that anyone wanting to catch fish in Loreto contact either one of the following ;
Alvaro ? or Aljieo Murrillo
Or take a man by the name of Manuel Ferendaez Jr, on a Day Trip. His father and he are two of the best commerical fisherman in the Area.
You folks talk and talk and talk with out any proof. Go see for yourselves do not depend on a lot of colleged/book trained so called Scientist for
Facts.
Look at the recent Debackle at the Kalamath River Basin.
You all find someone who supports your position and then Blindly follow that persons thought.Be an individual and go out to see the World, Taste it
on your own
You are all falling into the Trap of only beleiving only yourselves!!
Question:
No one except Pacoderm ever attempts to answer questions;,
Have the eco-nuts been successful in slowing down the fishing, NO!
Go to the Markets, Costco, Food for less have weekend Fish Sales all year!!Prices are Fair.
If you are a new person to Baja. Go to the various out of the wqy places and talk to the People. You will learn Facts!!
God Bless America and God Bess all the Soldiers fighting today so that all of us will be able to Post on this board and not have to live in Bamboo
Cages!!
Skeet/Loreto
1950-53 KoreaBeware of Instant Friends - 11-11-2003 at 10:47 AM
Skeet Said
Quote:
You all find someone who supports your position and then Blindly follow that persons thought.Be an individual and go out to see the World, Taste it
on your own
That's not what Eco-extremists at the lowest ranks *********** do.
Instead, they form a utopian picture of the environment that is is easy to view from their favorite arm-chair in their petrochemical heated house.
There are no cares that their ideas of environmental utopia are far from workable and thoroughly extreme. And certainly no self recognition of
hypocrisy. All is fine as long as they can "feel good" about their mantra to do a "supposed good" for the planet, right or wrong in reality.
And, all the same, they are dupes of the big, eco-guilt corporations where their "feel good" dues and contributions partialy go to providing perks
such as front row seats for the entire eco-staff at the most expensive rock concerts with lavish parties afterwards.
[Edited on 11-11-2003 by BajaNomad]
Woo Hoo, couldn't have said it better myself
flyfishinPam - 11-11-2003 at 03:10 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by whistler
Even though Loreto's fishery might not be what it once was,it will still be a place where people with no fishing talent can catch their limit.I will
probably pee off some people over that statement.
LOVE IT MAN!!! Keep it coming!
Skeet/Loreto - 11-14-2003 at 01:01 PM
Pam: With all this good free Advertising about fishing Loreto do you think you coud send me a couple of Home canned Jars of Yellowtail as well as
some smoked fish. Thanks Skeet/Loreto
pollution from Colorado River a factor?
whiteelephant - 11-28-2003 at 11:05 AM
I have been told that pollution washed out of the fields into the Colorado River and carried into the Sea of Cortez is also a factor in the
degradation of marine health. generubin - 1-27-2004 at 09:43 PM
I've been all over Baja and on both coasts of The Sea of Cortez for the last 30 years. Without a doubt there is less sea life, by a HUGE margin. And I
must say, 30 years is a nano-second in the big picture.Skeet/Loreto - 1-28-2004 at 03:18 PM
At times it makes youwonder"Why do all those people go to Cabo To Party or to catch Large Fish!!
Wonder why all those people from LA tow their boats for great distances to put into a place that has no Fish!
Wonder why all thsoe Websites give weekly reports on the number of fish being Caught?
Grover this one is for you!
"How happy is the One who does not Follow the Advice of the Wicked or stand in the Pathway with Sinners or Sit in the Assembly of Arrogant Fools!"
psalm 1:1Skeet/Loreto - 1-29-2004 at 10:53 AM
Read this entire Thread again after reading another Money Grabbing,Phoney information,Spin, thing about trying to put the Orcos on the LIST. Just so
they will be able to then Sue the Large corporations that may or may not be poluting the Waters near Seattle
You would think that those Atorney"s Mothers would have given them much better "Potty Training". the Awful Sierra Club is once again Low on funds so
needs to keep all of their dues payers sending in those "Blood Fees"!
Grover : this time I just have to post it again; Hope I stay on Board!
"As a Dog returneth to his Vomit,so does a Fool Returneth to his Folly" Proverb 26:11
Skeet/LoretoBarney - 2-2-2004 at 07:25 PM
Grover, It's simple. Drug interdiction check points are set up buy the Mexican government and paid for by the US GOV. Part of our mutual cooperation
agreement. Do you think its really working? Keeps you from taking fruit into Baja Sur.David K - 2-2-2004 at 09:56 PM
I get the impression that the checkpoints seem to serve the purpose of reminding the masses who's in power... or to show that there is a functioning
army, so forget about starting any revolution. They definately search the Mexicans more than Americans.
Deleting posts
jrbaja - 2-4-2004 at 08:15 AM
Why do my posts keep getting deleted? You guys don't like the truth perhaps? I don't think it's very american to let a small group of people moderate
a board. Especially when they are trying to prove something.Skeet/Loreto - 2-4-2004 at 09:11 PM
JR. Put it on Baja Net.
Skeeter......
Debra - 2-4-2004 at 09:56 PM
I feel I have to give you abit more info. on the Orca situation up here....and the reasons that we are trying to get them on the endangered. species
list, the Sierra Club (far as I know) isn't involved, this is a grassroots effort to protect our Orcas.....Orcas are as much a part of Puget Sound as
Salmon.....starting with Namu the first Orca captured (Canada) in the early '70s and put in a "ZOO" Sea World....The movie "Namu, the Killer Whale"
was filmed just a mile from my house....since then there have been many others.....Shamu, (she is now dead, but has several offspring at Sea
World...all the way down to Keicko stolen from his family in IceLand at age 2 and rescued by children (Brendan included) from a Mexico City horror in
dire straights and brought to Oregon to heal...finally he was released back into the wild but couldn't get over his need for humans and sought them
out at every chance he got....he died a few weeks ago.
What we have here now is young Orcas being orphaned (Moms washing up on nearby beaches) by pollutants and sonar testing (they think.....still doing
tests, the Navy has admited that they think it maybe the cause) they ,baby Orcas, are "adopting" ferry boats, fishing boats, and people, they are a
social animal same as us.(salmon fishermen are getting po'ed because of course they chase off the fish....this (Puget Sound) is like Scammon's , or
San Ignacio ....it should be a safe haven for Orcas. Our Pods (we have 3 main ones here) have dwindled by 20 something in the last few years, in years
before they were gaining...concidering that Orcas live sometimes for 40 some yrs. in the wild, I don't think we can affort to sit back and watch until
they are gone....nor should we, I can't help thinking about the canary in the cage with the miners.....they die first....GET OUT!!!Skeet/Loreto - 2-5-2004 at 12:39 PM
Debra: an excellent Report.! I am aware of the Plight of the Orcas! but more enlightened after reading your report.
It was reported down here in a Liberal Mood that the Prime reason this Law was being pushed was to make it so that the Sierra Club would be able to
Sue any Industry that allowed any water to go into Puget sound. there in my view should be a way to accomplish a Task with out making the Sierra club
attorneys Richer!!
Did you know that on accasion orcas have been spotted at the Mouth of the Sea Of Cortez?Also some years ago a small Pod hung around Rancho Bueno Vista
where they would attack small schools of Manta's, they would bite them an Stun them until they had a goodly amount and then would turn around and go
back to the beginning an consume them as their Food.
I have on at different times got on the Ferries an rode around Friday harbor just for the chance to see the Orcas.
I have a sieres of four photos taken by myyoung Daughter where I was able to Coax a Pilot Whale to the side of my panga and touch it!One of the most
exciting times in my Life!The largest number of Whales that virginia and I have seen in a single year around Loreto is 48.
If you can ever spend the Early Spring around Loreto and go to the right places you can see many Whales.
The Crazy Frenchman and his Good Looking Little French Maidian stayed at Bill and Betty Riffe's Home each year that he did his report to the Natl.
Geographic
the last time I attemped to listen to his words he was tellin me that he had found the "Albino Whale". I have never seen its Photo.
Any way I hope you are successful in your Quest.One of these days we as a People are going to have to set down and listen to each other somewhat like
we did years ago, other wise this country is going to "Divide and Fall".
"Build up and Change"
Not Tear Down and then Gloat"
In my heart I know that we all have a Purpose in Life , just sometimes it gets difficult to watch the young people "Tearing down their Lives!!
forgive my the preaching Debra.Skeet/Loreto Margie - 4-24-2004 at 01:32 PM
The Sea of Cortez has been depleted, and it was done by the Japanese !
Finally, there is a wildlife preserve in the
waters off Loreto ! Maybe the spirit of Chico Mendez had something to do with it...
