Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, a WWF fellowship recipient, makes the case of how marine reserves can contribute positively to the well-being of local economies. Another case study of why more must be done to prevent overfishing.
We could have never dreamt of such an extraordinary recovery of marine life, but in the reefs of a hidden undersea marine reserve named
Cabo Pulmo in Baja California, Mexico, the total amount of fish boomed more than 460 percent from 1999 to 2009. Cabo Pulmo can be considered the world’s most robust marine reserve.
Most of the knowledge of the benefits produced by marine reserves (areas of the ocean where any extractive activities such fishing are prohibited), comes from reserves smaller than 10 km
2. Although recoveries have happened inside the reserves, the small area has limited the absolute increase in fish size and population.
Octavio Aburto, courtesy Catalina Lopez
We had the rare opportunity of studying one large and well enforced marine reserve. After fifteen years of protection, species richness is greater inside Cabo Pulmo, and top predators are more abundant. The larger densities of fish represent a “hot spot” that has more than five times marine life than any reef in the Gulf of California.
Animals such as tiger sharks, bull sharks and black tip reef sharks increased significantly. These top predators keep reefs healthy. Other large fish at Cabo Pulmo include gulf groupers, dog snappers and leopard groupers.
The most striking result of our study is that full, complete recovery of a degraded fish population is possible (when placed in the right area and governed correctly), even to the level that is comparable to remote habitats that never have been impacted by fishing and other local human impacts.
The success of Cabo Pulmo is greatly due to local leadership, effective self-enforcement by local stakeholders, and the general support of the broader community. Boat captains, dive masters, and local people in general participate in various activities to enforce the regulations of the marine reserve, including surveillance, fauna protection (e.g. sea turtle nesting sites), and beach and ocean cleaning programs.
The ecological successes of Cabo Pulmo National Park are steadily translating into economic benefits within the small (around 100 residents) rural village of Cabo Pulmo and the surrounding areas. Less than 30 people with a few small businesses produce approximately US$18,000 per capita--an amount significantly higher than the average per capita Gross National Income in Mexico that is around US$10,000.
Few policymakers around the world are aware that
fish size and abundance can increase inside marine reserves to extraordinary levels within a decade after protection is established; fewer still know that these increases often translate into economic benefits for coastal communities. Therefore, showing what’s happened in Cabo Pulmo will contribute to ongoing conservation efforts in the marine environment and recovery of local coastal economies.
Photos courtesy of Octavio Aburto, Scripps, and WWF.
a school of fish in Cabo Pulmo, courtesy WWF/Octavio Aburto/Scripps
the diversity of species off of Cabo Pulmo, courtesy WWF/Octavio Aburto/Scripps
and the effort of the government? there is people working with them? or, there is no staff working in the park???
que padre que se le de el reconocimiento a este lugar, yo tuve la oportunidad de conocerlo y me parecio increible. Lo unico malo de este artículo es que no se le de el reconocimiento a las personas que trabajan para la reserva. Yo pague mi derecho para entrar y te dan un brazalete y ese dinero se destina a diferentes cosas de conservacion. estoy de acuerdo que la comunidad juega un papel super importante, pero tambien la autoridad protege ese lugar, se necesitan ambos y no darle un reconocimiento a ellos es una falta de respeto por parte del autor
Qué bueno por la gente, no hay nadie del gobierno entonces trabajando ahí? qué no se supone que es Parque? o no les dan crédito?
I think the author gave everyone credit–he mentioned local stakeholders–that covers everyone. No need to get upset, people.
Dear All,
The park has some staff working directly with the local community (as Leon mentioned, they are part of the stakeholders). This marine park is possible the tiniest one in Mexico, so it has very few staff (no more than 5 persons full time). I think they are doing a good job with the resources they have, but the government is not investing enough on its marine protected areas. We are preparing a full report on this aspect, where even the good results Cabo Pulmo is having, the agenda of marine reserves for the Mexican government is too far to be a reality yet.
Thank you Octavio: I think this should clear the air.
It appears to me that what the author is saying, that there is hope to revive at least some of the previously neglected marine eco-systems in Mexico, is more important than the spread of accolades. I could care less who should receive the credit for this wonderful effort, as long as positive results are visible, as I can attest from seeing the extraordinary marine life in Cabo Pulmo first hand.
So, Kudos to the valiant effort of the WWF, the government employees and its initiatives, and and any other volunteers and organizations who made this possible. By above all, let us be proud that these efforts are taking place at all, and let us imitate them on so many other neglected areas in the country to promote wildlife, marine or otherwise.
Thank you for the comment. I agree–who did it is not nearly imporant as the fact that it occurred at all. I think the author did a great job talking about the WHAT and barely mentioned the who.