Unprecedented: Fishing Communities Retiring Their Gillnets to Save the Vaquita
- Nov. 11, 2008
- Author: Peggy Turk-Boyer, Executive Director, CEDO

In an unprecedented move Upper Gulf of California fishing communities are retiring their nets in an effort to save the critically endangered vaquita. Some fishermen are starting new businesses; others are hoping to switch to more eco-friendly fishing gears that don’t harm the vaquita. Government subsidies are getting these businesses going, but your support will keep them operating.

The Mexican government has devised a comprehensive buyout plan offering incentives to over 800 fishermen to make the needed changes in their fishing activities to protect the vaquita porpoise. Vaquita get caught in gillnets, a primary fishing gear for small-scale fishermen in the Upper Gulf that fish from skiffs called “pangas” with outboard motors. Scientists state that this is the primary threat to vaquita, as they get tangled in gillnets and die. Mortality in gillnets must be reduced to zero, according to the International Committee for Recuperation of Vaquita (CIRVA). With an estimated only 150 animals left, the race is on to save this porpoise. 

Fishermen surveys conducted by CEDO, the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, in 2001 in the three primary communities of the Upper Gulf of California, indicated they are concerned about vaquita and are willing to participate in activities to protect it, especially if incentives are given.  Since 2005, fishermen have been participating actively in dialogues about how to make these changes.

This past August 2008 in Ensenada, Baja California, the Mexican government formally announced its Action Plan for the Conservation of Vaquita (PACE). The plan includes a comprehensive list of objectives and actions that are considered necessary for the recovery of the vaquita population, and to move toward a healthier ecosystem and sustainable fisheries in the Upper Gulf. Both the Environmental and Fisheries arms of the government are participating in this effort. They have joined with the Mexican Navy in inspection and enforcement activities considered key to the success of the program.

Vaquita Calf

The incentive package for fishermen includes three types of funds. Beginning in 2007, fishermen have been given several opportunities to apply for a voluntary buyout, also known as productive reconversion. Under this program fishermen submitted a business development proposal to the government for funding. The amount they received depended on how many fishing permits they gave up, and what boat, motor and equipment went with it, but some combination of all were required for fishermen to qualify. For example, a fisherman might receive $400,000 pesos ($40,000 dollars), for giving up 1 boat and permit for finfish fisheries. If 2 permits finfish and shrimp, were given up with a boat, the compensation was $500,000 pesos, and for 3 permits, (finfish, shrimp and shark)and boat, a fisherman would receive $600,000 pesos.

To date over 200 fishermen from the Upper Gulf have been approved for buyout projects, and will be retiring from fishing altogether. More applied than were granted funds, however, due in part to the quality of some of the projects and to the lack of sufficient funds. Director of the Upper Gulf Reserve, Jose Campoy, claims that over 70% of the projects are tourism related and these new businesses need to be promoted.

A second type of funding is the switch-out program, also known as a technological conversion. This program, provides funds for fishermen to switch their gill nets to gear that does not harm vaquita or the ecosystem. A total of 98 permits have been retired to date under this program.  Though some alternative gear options exist for the corvina fishery, the Gulf croaker, and mackerel (use of encircling nets, hook and line, and light drag nets), the big challenge is to find alternatives for the shrimp fishery. The prized shrimp from the Upper Gulf are caught both with small boats using gillnets and by large industrial trawlers. Though the latter method is not known to capture vaquita, it does capture a lot of non-target species, which can impact the entire ecosystem. The government began restricting trawling in the Upper Gulf Reserve in 2002 to reduce this impact.       

Fishermen are participating in experiments designed to test suriperas, a type of throw net, and traps and pots to catch shrimp and fish, but so far nothing is available to use on a commercial scale.  So, the third program is a temporary rent-out which buys time for the vaquita while new techniques are being developed. It is estimated that approximately 550 fishermen may participate in this program in 2009, in which fishermen agree to not fish in defined areas, renting their permit to the government for a year. This is considered a temporary measure, to give more time to design the appropriate gear for the shrimp fishery.

In all, about 40% of the region’s 800 fishing permits have been retired. This leaves approximately 550 more permits to retire over the coming year through one of these programs. In two years, from 2007-08, the Mexican government has already invested 25.5 million dollars benefiting over 2,863 people in these Upper Gulf communities.     

U.S. travelers to Mexico can support these fishing communities as they transition to low-impact activities. In recent years the Upper Gulf region has become one of Mexico’s most prominent tourist destinations with hundreds of thousands of US visitors each year.  Many of the fishermen’s projects will provide services for these travelers. By supporting them, you can help save the world’s most endangered marine mammal. CEDO will keep you posted on where to find these new local fishermen operated businesses.

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