Endangered Species and Precarious Lives in the Upper Gulf of California

McGuire, Thomas R.; Valdéz-Gardea, Gloria Ciria

doi:10.1525/cag.1997.19.3.101

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(10 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As the fishing sector struggled, fisheries scientists remained concerned about the totoaba population (Cisneros-Mata et al 1995a) while conservation groups (mostly U.S.-based) dedicated efforts to vaquita protection (McGuire and Valdez-Gardea 1997). Despite high uncertainty regarding population status or bycatch rates, vaquita was perceived by conservation advocates and scientists as a victim of lax environmental policy in Mexican fisheries and management (Fleischer and Pérez-Cortés 1996), a negative for NAFTA discussions.…”

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2). This resulted in declines of now-threatened native river fish populations, loss of important bird habitats, and fundamental shifts in oceanographic conditions (Mueller and Early in 1993, one year before the NAFTA signing, the Presidency informed government agencies and NGOs of the intention to create a reserve, and an interagency proposal led by CIRVA was drafted (McGuire and Valdez-Gardea 1997). Although the vaquita distribution was unclear, unconfirmed reports and an ongoing survey suggested that it extended beyond the northernmost UGC (Fleischer and Pérez-Cortés 1996).…”

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In practice, it can be challenged by Congress or state governments with evidence that industry is significantly affected. Among those present at the enactment ceremony were President Salinas; his top aides; the Governors of Sonora, Baja California, and Arizona; and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (McGuire and Valdez-Gardea 1997 (DOF 1993). …”

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concurrently, fishers' real income within the Reserve decreased from 1994-2002(Vázquez León et al 2010. Conservation proposals were met with sometimes violent demonstrations, shaping a period of socio-political backlash (mainly from the fisheries and coastal development sector) against conservation groups perceived to have helped impose a reserve with few benefits for, and no consultation with, local communities (McGuire and Valdez-Gardea 1997).…”

Section: Evolution Current Status and Future (1994-present)mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Science, society, and flagship species: social and political history as keys to conservation outcomes in the Gulf of California

Cisneros‐Montemayor¹,

Vincent²

2016

E&S

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Socio-political issues are important in environmental policy outcomes but are often overlooked in conservation planning. We analyze the effects of historical social, political, and ecological contexts on conservation policy outcomes as applied to the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve. A rushed implementation, perhaps necessary for the protection of endangered totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) and vaquita (Phocoena sinus), occurred with little community consultation, resulting in enduring disgruntlement among stakeholders that undermined its effectiveness. Overfishing and habitat degradation continue both inside and outside the reserve, and totoaba and vaquita remain Critically Endangered, with the latter's population estimated at approximately 90 individuals. Marine reserves can be useful, but when top-down enforcement is unfeasible, effective environmental policy requires full recognition and integration of political history and social structures and needs, and open discussion on trade-offs when win-win situations are not possible.

show abstract

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Industrial Fisheries Science and Conservation Advocacy (19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evolution Current Status and Future (1994-present)mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Science, society, and flagship species: social and political history as keys to conservation outcomes in the Gulf of California

Cisneros‐Montemayor¹,

Vincent²

2016

E&S

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is clear that the artisanal shrimp fishery, which is economically the highest‐value fishery in the region, was in a serious slump during the study period, and also that the chano fishery was very strong at that time. According to McGuire & Valdez‐Gardea (1997), small‐boat fishermen in the northern Gulf began to exploit chano heavily in 1992. The massive quantities of the fish gillnetted in 1992 were in response to an experimental effort by a Korean processor to supply the Asian market.…”

Section: Scientific Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation of the vaquita Phocoena sinus

Reeves²,

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The vaquita Phocoena sinus is a small porpoise that is endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the most critically endangered marine small cetacean in the world. The most precise estimate of global abundance based on a 1997 survey is 567 (95% CI 177-1073). 2.Vaquitas mainly live north of 30 ° 45 ′ N and west of 114 ° 20 ′ W. Their 'core area' consists of about 2235 km 2 centred around Rocas Consag, 40 km east of San Felipe, Baja California. Genetic analyses and population simulations suggest that the vaquita has always been rare, and that its extreme loss of genomic variability occurred over evolutionary time rather than being caused by human activities. 3. Gill nets for fish and shrimp cause very high rates of by-catch (entanglement) of vaquitas. Estimates of bycatch rates are from 1993-94 and refer to one of three main fishing ports: 84 per year (95% CI 14-155) using only data collected by observers and 39 per year (95% CI 14-93) using combined data from observers and interviews with fishermen. Boats from other ports may experience similar rates, and the total is probably well above what would be sustainable. 4. Other less well-characterized and longer-term risk factors include the potential for disturbance by trawling to affect vaquita behaviour, and the uncertain effects of dam construction on the Colorado River and the resultant loss of freshwater input to the upper Gulf. However, entanglement is the clearest and most immediate concern. 5. Progress towards reducing entanglement has been slow in spite of efforts to phase out gill nets in the vaquita's core range, and the development of schemes involving compensation for fishermen. The Biosphere Reserve in the northern Gulf has fallen far short of its potential for vaquita conservation. On 29 December 2005, the Mexican Ministry of Environment declared a Vaquita Refuge that contains within its borders the positions of approximately 80% of verified vaquita sightings. In the same decree, the state governments of Sonora and Baja California were offered $1 million to compensate affected fishermen. The effectiveness of this major initiative remains to be seen. 6. The vaquita's survival does not depend on more or better science but on improved management. As a funding priority, implementation of conservation measures and evaluation of their effectiveness should come ahead of more surveys or improved estimation of by-catch.

show abstract

The Colorado River Delta of Mexico: Endangered Species Refuge

All

2004

WorldMinds: Geographical Perspectives on 100 Problems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Endangered Species and Precarious Lives in the Upper Gulf of California

Cited by 12 publications

References 19 publications

Science, society, and flagship species: social and political history as keys to conservation outcomes in the Gulf of California

Science, society, and flagship species: social and political history as keys to conservation outcomes in the Gulf of California

Conservation of the vaquita Phocoena sinus

The Colorado River Delta of Mexico: Endangered Species Refuge

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About