There is no doubt that this is a great example of the government’s commitment to finding solutions to the environmental and conservation challenges the Upper Gulf of California faces. The participation seen from local community members is evidence that there is interest in finding ways through which they can improve their livelihoods and the employment opportunities available in the region.

The 2011 program did not have any participants in the Buyout category, and the fishing gear switch out only had participants from San Felipe, Baja California. In a buyout program, it is normal to see the # of participants to go down as time goes by, and so I can’t help but wonder if this year there will be any interest in this option. So many things have happened since last year, and the economic context and the fishing industry’s outlook are very different today. Should we be evaluating the strategy and adjust so we can meet the species needs, as well as the needs of those who live in the region?

The programs available for fishermen to choose from are:

1. Alternative livelihood (buyout): Fishermen turn in a boat, fishing permits assigned to that specific boat, the motor and fishing gear associated to the permits.

2. Alternative fishing gear development (switch out): Permanent substitution of gillnets with other fishing gear that does not pose a threat to vaquita. This option requires a valid fishing permit that is specific to the region and to a person; in case of a collective permit, then it needs to be specific to a boat.

3. Conservation activities (rent out): Fishermen receive compensation for suspending all fishing activities inside the vaquita refuge during the entire year. Only boats with valid fishing permits, and who’s fishing area falls within 30 nautical miles from their home port are eligible for this option.

For more information and a complete description of the PACE-Vaquita 2012 and all its categories visit CONANP’s webpage at http://www.conanp.gob.mx/vaquita_marina/

The last official estimate puts the vaquita population at 250 individuals. In 2010 there were three documented vaquita deaths, but on a positive note just a few days ago nine vaquitas were spotted off Rocas Consag. So is the vaquita better off today?

Shrimp fishing in the Upper Gulf of California began on Tuesday September 20th. It is estimated that 46,000 people depend on this activity and are hoping this turns out to be a good season. El Golfo de Santa Clara is expected to produce over 550 tons of shrimp, while San Felipe’s fleet is hoping to reach at least 310 tons. These volumes are based on past productions and do not include the trawling fleet’s catch volumes.

The Upper Gulf’s shrimp is known for its quality and size, making it a popular item among high-end restaurants. This is also the main reason why most of what is produced here is exported and usually has a good price.

During the 2009-2010 season opening price was set at $100 pesos/kg and reached $170 pesos/kg. The 2010-2011 season prices did not disappoint with prices ranging
from $160 – $220 pesos/kg.

So, the next six months fishermen will be busy travelling back and forth in an effort to bring home as much income as possible. Around 674 pangas will be fishing for shrimp this year. El Golfo de Santa Clara has the largest fleet with 423 authorized pangas, followed by San Felipe with 238 pangas and 8 boats. Puerto Peñasco has the least number of permits for pangas with 13, however 64 boats from their trawling fleet are allowed to fish in the region.

I wish I knew whether or not the vaquita was better off today; however after realizing how
much everything has changed since 2007, I remain optimistic.

Two weeks ago I visited El Golfo de Santa Clara and saw the usual sights of fishermen readying their fishing gear for the upcoming shrimp season. It is obvious this small town is, and probably will always be, a “fishing town”. But there was one big difference: the level of awareness regarding conservation and sustainability issues is higher, and it seems like for the first time fisheries management is starting to be addressed from a regional perspective.

It will be a very interesting season since many activities will be developing simultaneously. From scientific research, to monitoring and enforcement activities, and of course fishing activities, the Upper Gulf of California will be a busy place. As always, the days leading up to the opening season are filled with excitement and huge expectations. There is shrimp to be caught and money to be made, scientific knowledge to be generated, gear to be tested and, of course, vaquitas to protect.

Saving the vaquita marina, or any species for that matter, requires an understanding of the ecosystem and the activities that are developed in it.

The region has been heavily studied before; there are plenty of oceanography studies and scientists have studied many of the different fisheries and their target species. Since the creation of the biosphere reserve, several studies on the impact of the establishment of the reserve and the refuge on local communities, including their fisheries, have been published. Studies on vaquita are numerous as well (from biology to ecology and even on bycatch). So we know a lot about many different species and issues, but we are still trying to understand how each one of them relates to the rest and how the dynamics of this ecosystem affect each one, including the vaquita marina.

Hopefully the research that is done this year will help us get closer to gaining a better understanding of the region from an ecosystem point of view. Scientists and NGOs will be working with the fishermen in gathering much needed information that will mostly help develop a fishing impact assessment (IA) for the region. Last year was the first year that the artisanal fleet was required to have one, and since the document lacked crucial information it was only approved for one year. This time around, fishermen and NGOs decided to work together in developing an IA that would meet the standards expected not only by the government, but by national and international NGOs. Also, and perhaps most importantly, an IA that will include specific actions that will allow fishermen to incorporate sustainable practices and reduce their impact on the ecosystem.

A chango "mini-trawl" net, Santa Clara. Chris Johnson

Another research component is the development of efficient and vaquita safe fishing gear to be used instead of gillnets.

For now, research has focused on developing gear aimed at catching shrimp. However we must keep in mind that gill nets are used in other fisheries as well, so research on this field will need to expand to other fisheries soon if what we want is to eliminate vaquita’s major threat. Last year INAPESCA did research on fin fish fishing methods, but fishermen were not involved in this project and it was on much smaller scale than the shrimp fishing gear testing. These two elements (knowledge on fisheries and fishing gear) are crucial in the conservation plan for vaquita and require everyone’s collaboration.

Past experiences have taught us that, despite everyone’s good intentions, things can get tense between fishermen and scientists, especially when each other’s activities are affected during the process. Scientists are pressured to get results while fishermen look to earn a living; both activities require time and patience form both sides, so exasperation and arguments often become elements in the daily routines. It may be tough, but last year’s results are proof that arguments can be resolved and people can work together. After a rough start, gear was tested after fishermen, government and NGOs were able to come up with a plan that satisfied all those involved. The bar is set high for this year, and with even more participants involved, let us hope they all come equipped with patience and that they don’t lose sight of the objectives.

It’s encouraging to see the efforts put forth by fishermen and how they are getting involved in research activities. They have long asked for NGOs and scientist to step in and generate the knowledge needed to move forward in conservation and resource management efforts. This is an opportunity for fishermen to experience all that goes into scientific research and why “it takes forever” to get results and information. Slowly, fishermen are becoming partners in the process of generating knowledge, and scientists acknowledge the importance of their participation. Fishermen have valuable information that has been acquired by their experience out at sea and this becomes significant, especially in projects like gear development. Sharing responsibility in the search for solutions creates a sense of responsibility and ownership that will eventually lead to long-lasting conservation and management measures.

I especially look forward to seeing how the closure of specific areas for gear testing works out.

Blue Shrimp

Last year’s testing activities were occasionally interrupted when gillnets “invaded” the path of a trawling panga. This meant that testing had to stop, which kept research teams from achieving their goals and getting the necessary data. As a result, area closures were designed to eliminate competition for space between gill net fishing and trawling with the chango nets. Area closures have always been tough to implement (even with compensation), so these might generate some unrest. Fishermen have already voiced reservations about the location, dates and how the areas were chosen. It is tough enough to do the testing, so factoring these types of challenges is no easy task for the scientists. Could this be the year we finally see strong results from gear testing? I certainly hope so.

Enforcement is always a big issue with people complaining about here being too little or too much of it. PROFEPA, CONANP and CONAPESCA will have their hands full as they prepare to begin their enforcement programs. While each institution has different attributes and jurisdictions, the area to be monitored is large (the entire Biosphere Reserve, not just the vaquita refuge), and this requires huge amounts of resources including personnel, equipment, and money. While priority should be placed on endangered species like the vaquita marina or the totoaba, a comprehensive enforcement program that helps achieve conservation as well as management goals is desperately needed for the region.

I do wish to say that past efforts have given good results and things are getting better. Last year there were no reported vaquita drownings, and fishermen talked about enforcement authorities being too tough, especially in and around the vaquita refuge (I take this as an indicator of authorities doing their job). The core zone was also heavily patrolled in an effort to keep fishermen from entering and fishing inside, and a couple even got their gear confiscated for fishing illegally. But it hasn’t only been government authorities doing all the work. Fishermen increasingly push for bigger budgets in order to increase enforcement in the region. They know that by protecting marine resources they are protecting their income.

The fishing sector also has big expectations for this season.

Two pangas fishing.

Last year there were over 500 tons of shrimp caught in the upper gulf. With an average price of $160 pesos/kg, this translated into over $81 million pesos. Prices are expected to fluctuate between $12 and $18 dlls/kg this season, and artisanal fishermen expect buyers to approach them since trawling boats have an embargo on their shrimp and therefore it can’t be exported to the US. Shrimp from trawlers might be directed to satisfy demand from local and national markets instead. The economic importance of this resource is obvious and this fishery represents the communities’ main income. Finding a way in which the fishery and vaquita can coexist is one the biggest challenge for the region.

The region’s environmental problems are complex, and in the past five years the situation has evolved, allowing us to learn about new issues or aspects that were either not considered or were unknown. This complexity is what constantly demands an open mind and a willingness to adapt and learn from the experiences. It looks as if everyone is feeling a bit more comfortable in tackling challenges and addressing pending needs without getting overwhelmed.

Catalina Lopez with Carlos Tirado Piñeda in Santa Clara.

Fishermen appear to be more involved, NGOs more proactive (as opposed to just pointing out faults and errors), and the government seems to be listening and trying to satisfy everyone’s needs. There is still so much to be done, and even though things move slowly, it is more than what was happening five years ago.

So let’s hope it’s a good season for science and fishing and that new and old working relationships are strengthened; but most importantly, let’s hope this is a good season for vaquita.

Additional Links:

• PROFEPA- Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA – Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente), Mexico
• CONANP – National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (COMISION NACIONAL DE ÁREAS NATURALES PROTEGIDAS), Mexico
• CONAPESCA – National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing (COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE ACUACULTURA Y PESCA), Mexico

These are the programs available to fishermen:

1. Buy-out (alternative livelihoods program): Fishermen turn in a boat (panga), all fishing permits assigned to it, its motor and all fishing gear associated to the fishing permits.
   

   	Maximum amount of $ (pesos)
   1boat, motor and gill nets associated to 3 or more fishing permits.	$400,000.00
   1 boat, motor and gill nets associated to 2 fishing permits.	$350,000.00
   1 boat, motor and gill nets associated to 1 fishing permit.	$300,000.00

2. Fishing gear exchange (“switch-out”): Permanent substitution of gillnets with other fishing gear that does not pose a threat to vaquitas. This requires a fishing permit to be modified so that they specify what gear fishermen will be allowed to use.
   

   	Maximum amount of $ (pesos)
   Fishing gear exchange for 1 permit	$300,000.00

3. Rent-out (conservation activities): Fishermen receive compensation in exchange for suspending all fishing activities with gillnets inside the vaquita refuge and three additional areas where gear testing will take place. These additional areas will be closed off during specific dates; this means that during these periods of time only gear testing is allowed inside their perimeters. Funds for this program are given to each boat as long as they have a current fishing permit and their fishing area is within 30 nautical miles of their assigned docking port.Gear testing will take place the following days (2010):
   

   Month	Start	Finish
   September	24	28
   October	16	20
   November	1	5
   December	2	6

   	Maximum amount of $ (pesos)
   Biodiversity Conservation Activities	$60,000.00

4. Fishing gear development (gear testing): This program refers to the testing of the RS-INP-MX net. Testing activities will be done throughout the entire shrimp season and under a special fishing permit allowing for gear development. Funds will be awarded in exchange for suspending the commercial fishing permit for the same period of time. There are three categories to chose from in this program:
   1. Gear development with the purchase of the RS-INP-MX prototype. Funds awarded include the cost of the fishing gear; fishermen need to purchase this gear following technical specifications as well as operation techniques established by INAPESCA.
   2. Gear development without the purchase of the RS-INP-MX prototype. This option is only available to those who changed their fishing permit specifications from gillnet use to RS-INP-MX prototype use, as well as to those who participated in the gear development program in 2009.
      
   3. Controlled testing. Only boats that changed their fishing permits so that they specified the use of RS-INP-MX are eligible. Up to 10 boats will be selected and will operate under the work plan and direction of INAPESCA. Boats not selected for this category will be eligible for consideration for option (b).

Fishermen participating in any of the categories described above are required to complete at least 15 fishing trips during the shrimp season. Each trip needs to include three 1 hour trawls and should have an observer on board.

	Maximum amount of $ (pesos)
Gear development with the purchase of the RS-INP-MX prototype (option a).	$170,000.00
Gear development without the purchase of the RS-INP-MX prototype (option b).	$90,000.00
Controlled testing (option c).	$120,000.00

For more information and a complete description of the PACE-Vaquita 2010 and its programs visit CONANP’s web site at http://www.conanp.gob.mx/vaquita_marina/

(site and documents are in Spanish) ]]> http://vaquita.tv/blog/2010/09/11/buy-outs-and-new-fishing-technology/feed/ 1 http://vaquita.tv/blog/2010/09/10/authorized-pace-vaquita-proposals-2010/ http://vaquita.tv/blog/2010/09/10/authorized-pace-vaquita-proposals-2010/#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:01:20 +0000 Catalina López http://vaquita.tv/?p=2728 CONANP has published a list of the authorized proposals from fishermen looking to participate in the 2010 buy-out, gear development and rent-out programs.

As was expected, the program with the highest number of participants is the rent-out and, unlike previous years, there were no volunteers for the buy-out option.

This has resulted in a greater number of fishermen participating in the gear development categories. While NOGs and the Mexican Government may have been counting on the buy-out to eliminate gill nets from the water, fishermen are starting to see the value of investing their time and effort in development fishing gear that will ultimately allow them to keep fishing in the future.

Gear testing has not been easy in the past, and INAPESCA and fishermen have faced many challenges in terms of logistics. The main complaint last year was that testing activities interfered with fishing activities, and fishermen using the RS-INP-MX prototype found themselves competing for space with fishermen using traditional gill nets. Hopefully with the closures in the additional three areas, pangas testing the RS-INP-MX prototype will be able to work properly and INAPESCA personnel will be able to gather the necessary data during the experiments.

These are the results for each program in each community:

Total number of permits participating in program:

For more information and a detailed list of the approved proposals visit CONANP’s web site at – http://www.conanp.gob.mx/vaquita_marina/

(site and documents are in Spanish).

In an interview in the context of training for inspectors in the states of the Gulf of Mexico on turtle excluder devices said that Mexico uses rudimentary methods for fishing, especially shrimp.

He said that throughout the country are carried out training for fishermen to update them on legal and technicians on the use of DET in the shrimp fishery.

However, Veracruz regretted that neighboring country experts have detected that simulates fishermen let open the turtle excluder devices, finding in them turtles. “In the municipality of Alvarado, US experts who are certified to export shrimp Mexico have found evidence that fishermen closed devices.

In this situation I urge fishermen to avoid this action because the United States could implement the embargo against Mexico in the export of shrimp for the fishing activity presents the life of the turtles. Camarena Lother arguments that the sanction can be up to 50000 minimum wages, when they use them with turtles. DET therefore should properly use the devices to safeguard marine life. It emphasized that experts from the United States require that fishing in Mexico be similar to that applied for them, ie, that there is similarity in the protection of the turtles.

From:

http://www.el-mexicano.com.mx/

Over past weeks, I conducted interviews with a myriad of people involved in the vaquita issue; scientists, managers, and conservation groups. In those interviews, there was very little talk about education. I did not witness any education programs in the local communities of San Felipe and El Golfo – “ground zero” of the whole vaquita issue.

Millions of dollars have been raised, and numerous experts have been called in to find a solution at a frantic pace. You have got to commend the Mexican government for taking the science seriously in the case of vaquita, with the recent extinction of the baiji being a catalyst in trying to find a solution now.

What I found in local communities is that education about the vaquita, the conservation issues, the fisheries compensation schemes (alternative livelihood projects) and alternatives in fishing gear is severely lacking. Sure, there are groups set up to promote eco-tourism activities like sport-fishing and such. However, what is being offered and what the local market can support is questionable, as raised in my interview with Miguel Reyes Franco entitled “A Fisherman’s Perspective“.

Most people think the vaquita is a myth. That is because there is no education about the animal in the region – it is akin to the lochness monster of the northern gulf of california. Ironically, it is this perceived myth that is now altering the very fabric of these local communities.

While in El Golfo de Santa Clara, Catalina Lopez Sagástegui and I visited the local high school to show video and photos of vaquita to students that I filmed only a few days earlier. The classroom was a tan shipping container stocked with computers along the walls. I plugged my Macbook Pro into a projector and away we went. Catalina served as a translator.

On other science expeditions and conservation projects around the world, my wife Genevieve and I conducted education presentations using multimedia to share unique wildlife encounters with students and inspire them about the marine wonders at their doorstep.

So I took the kids on a visual journey to share stories of whales and dolphins. I showed them images and short videos from places like Argentina, Greece and Australia. The aim was to put into perspective just how unique the vaquita porpoise is. After all, this was a Mexican animal, in a Mexican sea. These truly are their animals.

I felt this was one of the most rewarding and important experiences of the entire expedition. Unbelievably, this was the first time anyone had taken the time to visit the school and talk about the vaquita.

After the presentation we answered questions from interested students. They asked things like:

“Why hasn’t anyone come here to show us this before?”
“People like you should come and share with us what you are doing…”

I left images and video with the principal of the school to show students in the future, and to share with others in the town.

Throughout my journey in Mexico, I tried to record all sides of the vaquita story. Recently, many people in conservation and science have asked me my thoughts having had such a unique perspective. They want to know what I think the future is for vaquita.

Well, my answer is – the young people in this video . They are the future.

People could argue there may be no vaquita by the time these young people grow up, and I agree. But, this only serves to highlight the fact that the same problem occurs over and over again. People are generally unwilling to invest in education, saying it is too “long-term”, and they don’t see a fast enough return on their investment.

However, this kind of forward thinking could prevent such situations occuring in the first place. People knew the Baiji (the Yangtze river dolphin) was in trouble for decades. Yet, it went extinct with most of the world having never heard its name.

As with the baiji, we are now embarking on a desperate effort to save an animal when it is already on the verge of extinction; rather than utilizing long term education efforts to prevent us getting to this point in the first place. Perhaps this is what can be learned from “Expedition Vaquita”.

I would like to thank Ernesto Vasquez of CONANP and Catalina López Sagástegui of Noroeste Sustentable (NOS) for kindly transcribing and translating thes interviews.

I spent time on the water documenting artisanal fishers setting gillnets from pangas in an epic desert sea brimming with life. I watched hundreds of shrimp trawlers dragging nets along the sea floor all over the upper gulf (including through the vaquita refuge and biopshere reserve), unregulated and out of control. And, I met face to face, the secretive porpoise everyone is talking about – the vaquita marina.

In the blogs I have written about “Expedition Vaquita”, the perspective of the local people is one I feel has not been adequately shared. In November, I spent time in El Golfo de Santa Clara. Members of the community kindly took me out on their boats, let me into their homes allowing this odd american-australian hybrid to examine their lives in close focus.

Miguel Reyes Franco was one of these people. Miguel is the President of the fishermen co-operative “Tiburones de Santa Clara”. A cooperative is a group of fishermen that organize themselves in order to maximize their benefits. A group of co-operatives can be represented by a federation. The federation ensures the co-operatives can access things like government funds.

I first met Miguel at the NACAP meeting in Mexicali in late October 2008.
Miguel was very personable and well versed on the vaquita issue. He was also someone keen to be part of the solution. He attended the event to find out first-hand what alternative lifestyles were being offered to the fishermen, and how the first-year of the government plan was affecting them.

For the past year, Miguel has been taking part in the alternative gear experiments in the region. The following interview takes place at his house in El Golfo. Miguel gave me a different perspective and insight into the issues surrounding vaquita conservation from those most affected.

Listening to Miguel, I felt that alternatives will only work if an even playing field is created for all fishermen. At its core, fishing is an extremely competitive business – if you don’t catch more fish, your neighbor will. This has led to all sorts of problems with fishing on a local and commercial level worldwide.  

As in any fishing community, fishers in El Golfo want to catch as many shrimp ( and fish) as possible to make money. If alternatives do not generate the same amount of income as fishermen currently get using gillnets, ultimately they will fail. Miguel represents fishermen who want to see this program work fairly, and ultimately conserve vaquita at the same.

I would like to thank Ernesto Vasquez of CONANP and Catalina López Sagástegui of Noroeste Sustentable (NOS) for kindly transcribing and translating thes interviews.

Links:

• For more information about the fisheries buy-out, visit – “Behind the Buyout”.
• Watch footage of an encounter with vaquita in “Meet the Vaquita Marina”.
• Learn more about the NACAP Meeting in Mexicali.