MEXICO CITY (apro).- The Intragovernmental Group on Sustainability in the Upper Gulf of California (GIS) met last Friday with members of the fishing sector to prevent totoaba fishing and protect the vaquita.
The Secretary of the Navy (Semar) estimated that illegal fishing in the Zero Tolerance Zone (Zo) has been reduced by 79 percent, so they proposed expanding this project four more kilometers and installing a video surveillance system -with FLIR cameras. – within a radius of 25 km.
In collaboration with the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (Conapesca), of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), work is being done on the preparation of a preliminary project to install a system for locating small vessels.
They also announced the creation of seven protocols for joint action, which establish the procedures to guide the actions of the public servants of Semar, Conapesca and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) in the Upper Gulf of California. These protocols will be disseminated through workshops and participatory meetings aimed at the fishing sector, in order to promote greater awareness of the importance of protecting the vaquita and the fight against illegal fishing of totoaba.
Constant surveillance in this area is carried out by the maritime radar system of the oceanic patrol, allowing a daily record of the vessels detected. In addition, monitoring is carried out in the Vaquita Marina Protection Refuge Area (ZRV) through a terrestrial radar system.
In order to reinforce operations during the shrimp fishing season in September and October, maritime, land and air patrols are planned with manned and unmanned units.
During May, an observation mission witnessed a sighting of between 10 and 13 vaquitas during the nearly two weeks they spent in the region.
On the other hand, Conapesca has inspected a total of 1,153 vessels to date. In addition, 27 extraordinary inspections have been carried out in order to raise awareness about problems related to illegal fishing, the use of prohibited nets, environmental and fishing regulations.
During the month of July, workshops for fishermen will be held in San Felipe, Golfo de Santa Clara and Puerto Peñasco, and an informative brochure detailing the penalties for operating illegally in the Zo will be made available.
Previously, several organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Marine Mammal Rescue (MMARES, AC) and Greenpeace Mexico, expressed doubts and criticism regarding the effectiveness of the proposed measures to protect the vaquita.
Despite focusing on the elimination of bycatch and the adoption of alternative methods for fishermen, the organizations question the capacity of the National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) to implement such changes and comply with the guidelines established since 2008.
