Gulf of California Case Study

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

A Unique Ecosystem

Marine area38,782,015 ha

Terrestrial area41,048,263 ha

High primary Productivitytwo upwellings per year

Coastal wetlands600,000 ha

Mangroves256,000 ha

Marine Habitat - Coral reef- Rocky reef- Soft sea beds- Seagrass beds- Hidrothermal vents

930 Islands

891 fishes

Biological richness

181 seabirds

34 marine mammals

831 endemic species Phocoena sinus Vaquita

Totoaba macdonaldi Totoaba

6 marine reptiles

4,853 macro-invertebrates

16 IUCN Red List

6,000 species of marine macro fauna

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

Biological Importance

Areas of Biological Importance

Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, less than 4% and 0.004% is no-take zone

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

History of the region’s transformation 16 Native ethnic groups

Christian missions 1522-1531Subsistence agriculture1530Mining 1800

CommunicationsSteam boats Railway route 1882-1930

FisheriesOutboard-motors boats 1930Shrimp trawlers 1940-1980

Mechanized agriculture(1940-1970)DamsAgriculture district

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

Socio - economic trends

Agriculture, livestock, mining and fisheries 11.2% (0.7)

Commerce, Tourism33.8% (4.5)

Contributions to regional economy(av. 20 yr growth)

Manufacturing 18.2% (4.7)

Financial services 15.9% (5.8)

Socio - economic trends

Building Capacity for Management

Acad

emy

State Universities Regional Research

Centers Sea of Cortez Research

Society

70’s to 80’s

Government

90’s

International NGOs Local and National NGOs Government presence in PA’s SEMARNAT G of C Coalition ALCOSTA FMCN

Government

Acad

emy

NGO’s

2000

Gulf of California

Fund

Regional

Leadership GroupR

eso

urc

es u

sers

Government

Acad

emy

NGO’s

National Fisheries

Institute

Regional Centers for

Fisheries Research

Government

50’s to 70’s

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

Prime Fishing Grounds

Industrial (sardine) and Sport

Small scale Shrimp trawling

Priorities for Nautical Tourism

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

Nautical Tourism

U N I T E D S T A T E S

So n o r a

S i n a lo a

Nayarit

Baja C

aliforn

ia

Baja C

alifornia Sur

M E X I C O

Priorities for Conservation

Improved managementof protected areas

50% shrimp trawlersbuyout and improvedtechnology

Integrated management of coastal wetlands

15% of the marine zone with MPA by 2020

Re-orientation of the Nautical Staircase

United intersectorial efforts to define solutions to threats are critical for conservation.

Governance structures are very important for real natural resource management.

Marine protected areas are useful tools to control open access and support fisheries management.

Ultimatly, negociating changed behavior produces results, not the imposition of the values of one group on another

Our Learning

Sustained progress towards unambiguous goals is being made at the Large Coastal Ecosystem (LCE) scale

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef The North American Great Lakes The Wadden Sea The Chesapeake Bay

The greatest returns on investment are seen when LCE management occurs before restoration of lost qualities is the priority

Global Learning

The Gulf of California Joint Initiativefor social well being and conservation

Leaders in the environmental community

Leaders in national and state government

Leaders in the business community

Secure Presidential endorsementSecure Presidential endorsement

A critical path to a positive future

Articulate a common regional vision that:

Secure core funding and an implementing structureSecure core funding and an implementing structure

Negotiate a Regional Agreement through stakeholder Negotiate a Regional Agreement through stakeholder negotiations and public reviewnegotiations and public review

Specifies ambitious, measurable goalsSpecifies ambitious, measurable goals

Addresses the major issues and stakeholder interestsAddresses the major issues and stakeholder interests

Endorsing Organizations