Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

• Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
• Illegal activities (illegal fishing)
• Serious concerns about the imminent extinction of an endemic porpoise species (vaquita) and conservation status of a marine fish (totoaba)

• Imminent extinction of an endemic porpoise species (vaquita) and conservation status of a marine fish (totoaba)
• Insufficient capacity to control illegal fishing and trafficking activities
• Presence of unsustainable fishing practices that endanger non-target marine species

In progress

Proposed for adoption in the draft Decision below

Proposed for adoption in the draft Decision below

N/A

On 31 January 2024, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1182/documents/, reporting the following:

• Verifications were carried out at authorized embarkation and disembarkation points, with 99.6% of vessels inspected complying with legislation. Irregularities identified included vessels lacking the necessary fishing permits or transporting prohibited fishing gear, and fines were imposed accordingly;
• Fishery products and by-products were inspected and land-based verification points were established. Road checkpoints were also positioned at relevant transport links. Inspections identified 81 findings of non-compliance;
• Ocean patrol has increased in capacity to ensure continuous presence in the Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA). Between April and October 2023, 88 vessels were detected, marking a 53% decrease compared to the same period in 2022;
• Removal and disposal of ghost nets recovered in the ZTA has been implemented, in collaboration with Sea Shepherd Conservation and other local organizations;
• Training has enhanced capacity in identifying cross-border movements of totoaba products;
• Notice requests have been submitted to INTERPOL to identify trafficking operations, and for information on the identity or whereabouts of specific individuals;
• A financial reporting mechanism has been established, which has identified 53 reports of unusual operations related to totoaba trafficking;
• Conviction processes are ongoing with initiation of 88 investigations, and 32 cases undergoing prosecution;
• The People's Republic of China (China), the United States of America (USA) and Mexico have reached an agreement on the Terms of Reference for the ‘Trilateral Law Enforcement Contact Group’ to facilitate cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination of illegally trafficked totoaba products;
• A domestic working group has been established to enhance exchange of information on organized crime;
• Terms of Reference for the ‘Fishermen Registration Program’ for alternative fishing gear in the Upper Gulf of California and a comprehensive document outlining the structure of the programme has been formulated;
• Between April and July 2023, 23 alternative fishing gear permits were granted, of which 16 permits are for the Gulf of Santa Clara, and seven for San Felipe;
• Training has been conducted in alternative fishing systems. Further development of Alternative Fishing Systems for Curvina golfina is underway;
• A Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) was submitted with the report;
• Visual surveys of vaquita in 2023 observed 10 to 13 healthy individuals, including at least one calf;
• 193 concrete blocks with rods were placed in the ZTA to trap gillnets and thereby discourage illegal fishing.

The vaquita population remains of critical concern with the species still on the brink of extinction. While the visual surveys in 2021 and 2023 indicate the population has remained stable, including the continued observation of at least one calf, conservation efforts must be rapidly and drastically improved to ensure their survival and recovery. Regular surveys of the vaquita population to monitor the success of conservation measures and efforts to date are welcomed and should continue.

The ongoing inter-institutional surveillance and law enforcement efforts aimed at eliminating illegal fishing activities in the Upper Gulf are once more noted. However, whilst instances of illegal fishing appear to be reducing in the ZTA, illegal fishing activities continue according to figures presented in the report submitted by the State Party. Therefore, it appears that, despite ongoing efforts (many of which have shown improvement in recent years), further efforts are required in order to halt illegal fishing across the vaquita’s entire habitat, including the entire vaquita refuge area.

It is encouraging that the deployment of significant efforts to retrieve ghost nets from the ZTA, resulted in only a relatively small number of nets retrieved, indicating the possible success of efforts towards eliminating ghost nets from the ZTA. However, given the continued observation of illegal fishing operations in the property, it is essential that retrieval of abandoned fishing gear continues alongside increased surveillance and law enforcement to ensure that both abandoned and active gillnet fishing are eliminated from the ZTA, and the area remains completely free of all gillnets. 

The novel approach to deterring illegal gillnet fishing in the ZTA using sunken seabed hooks is noted with appreciation and it is essential that the efficacy of this technique is assessed and monitored. Noting also the potential of the hooks to trap gillnets and become a source of entanglement and mortality of vaquita and other marine species, it is also essential that these hooks are regularly maintained and trapped nets removed from them on an ongoing basis.

Whilst the ongoing issuance of alternative fishing gear licenses is noted, the State Party should be requested to increase efforts to improve uptake of the alternative fishing gear across all fishing communities in the Upper Gulf to ensure these technologies are successfully implemented at the required scale.

The cooperation between the State Party and the relevant international institutions and States Parties that are transit and destination countries for illegal totoaba products, in particular the USA and China, including within the framework of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), should also be welcomed. It is important that cooperation is strengthened, in particular with the establishment and operation of the Trilateral Law Enforcement Contact Group, to effectively address the illegal totoaba bladder trade, including through effective implementation of the Compliance Action Plan of Mexico for Totoaba under CITES.

The submission of a proposal for the DSOCR for the property is noted with appreciation and it is recommended that the Committee approves it.