The Northern Gulf of California was once one of the richest marine ecosystems on earth. Its abundant life lured fishermen to its shores to reap this bounty. Today these resources from sharks and shrimp to grouper and snails are in decline. As fishermen face empty nets, and “fish down the food chain,” taking stingrays instead of sharks, they are increasingly interested in better management. The loss of biodiversity is important to stakeholders beyond fishers. Both in Mexico and globally the region is considered a priority for marine conservation.

We recognize that fisheries issues are interrelated, geographically, socially, ecologically, as well as across fishing methods and communities.  Our goal is to integrate sound science with community participation for sustainable fisheries. We work with fishermen to understand and solve fisheries issues, and to establish effective and just management.

Currently we are looking at:

- The socioeconomic and ecological context of fisheries
- Ecosystem-based research & management
- The efficacy and design of conservation and management tools
- Essential fish habitats in wetlands and rocky environments

We integrate information from these studies to understand the connections between fishers, fish and habitats of the Northern Gulf and to improve management practices and policies. CEDO promotes creation and strengthening of institutions that allow fishers to formally participate in governmental management decisions.

Fisheries Projects

Upper Gulf Coastal Fisheries
Our research provides information on fishing zones, seasons, reproductive times and fishermen’s ideas for management in the upper Gulf.

Ecosystem-Based Management
We seek to understand the relationship between natural and social processes and to develop an integrated management framework for small-scale fisheries through the PANGAS and ATLANTIS projects

Commercial Divers
We’ve worked with commercial divers since 1988 to understand and manage this unique fishery. An important milestone was reached in 2002 when divers were recognized with Mexico’s National Conservation Award.

Co-Management in other Puerto Peñasco Fisheries
CEDO advances local participation in sustainable fishing practices. Projects include a reduction of fishing effort to protect the vaquita, co-management of the blue crab trap fishery, and a feasibility study for a new geoduck clam diving fishery.  See next page (click on the link to next page below) to read about the "Corredor Lobos" project, underway in 2011. 

Vaquita
The critically endangered vaquita suffers high mortality in gillnets, a fishery hundreds of fishermen depend on. CEDO has been an active participant in a long process to find win-win solutions to this dilemma.  Today a new forum, Alto Golfo Sustentable, brings fishermen, marketers and conservation groups together with a renewed commitment to protecting vaquita and sustaining the economically-important shrimp fishery.

Essential Fish Habitats
For effective conservation and management for fisheries, information is needed on the distribution of commercial species in all life stages. We are compiling information on fish use of wetland and rocky habitats.

Resources (Coming Soon)
Here you’ll find a glossary of fishing terms, our publications, links and program updates.

Sustainable Fisheries Team, Research and Management
Fisheries Coordinator: Dr. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fisheries Assistants: IBAERA. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Biol. Mar. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Biol. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fisheries Researcher: M. en C. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marine Conservation Specialist: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it