TIDE BITS: EARLY FISHERIES - Totoaba & Shark

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government assisted the Mexican government to pave Highway 8 from Lukeville, Arizona south to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. International markets opened. Boat building became an important industry because of easy access to materials in the U.S.  War time research identified shark liver oil as an important source of Vitamin A.  By the 1950’s shark fishing and industrial shrimp fisheries were booming, making Puerto Peñasco one of Mexico’s most productive ports. Fishing was so successful in these spawning grounds that whole populations were decimated. The totoaba became the first marine fish to be listed as endangered and it received full protection in Mexico in 1975. Shark species were decimated here and throughout the world.