Enhance social wellbeing in small scale fisheries

Introduction

We are pleased to share with you the progress, achievements, and most significant activities of the Sustainable Fisheries Program during 2024. This report is a testament to the positive impact your generous contributions have had on our initiatives, the conservation of our marine ecosystems, and the strengthening of local fishing communities. Thanks to your support, we have been able to move toward a more sustainable and equitable future for the region.

Key Collaborations

In 2024, we strengthened our partnerships with more than 15 national and international organizations, including: Ecologistas sin Fronteras, SmartFish A.C., Comunidad y Biodiversidad A.C. (COBI), CIBNOR, CICIMAR, TNC, Pronatura Noroeste, COMEPESCA, Ocean Conservancy, and The Ocean Foundation, as well as experts such as Dr. Julio Parra, Dr. William Gilly, and researcher Oriana Smy. These collaborations have been essential to the success of our projects and have enabled our initiatives to reach more people and have a greater impact in the region.

Achievements of 2024

Sustainable Fisheries in the Central Gulf of California
In 2024, we concluded the project “Development of Sustainable Fisheries in the Central Gulf of California,” funded by the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN). This project included community and underwater surveys and monitoring, promoting sustainable fishing practices in our region. Through this effort, we successfully engaged the fishing community in the protection of their natural resources.

Fishery Improvement Project Evaluation
Thanks to collaboration with Ecologistas sin Fronteras and Dr. Julio Parra, we completed the evaluation of the Fishery Improvement Project on Fishery Progress, reaching a Category D in June 2024. This has placed the Santa Rosalía–Heroica Mulegé corridor on the international Fishery Progress map, opening new doors to preferential markets for our fishers and guiding the improvement process toward Category C.

Social Responsibility Consulting
After two years of work and proposals, we secured funding from Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) to develop a plan to strengthen social responsibility—an essential aspect of the Fishery Progress evaluation and the improvement of our sustainable fishing practices.

Ghost Net Reduction
In 2024, we continued our work to recover abandoned fishing nets, an effort that began in 2023 with the support of Ocean Conservancy. With an initial $20,000 grant, we managed to collect an average of eight tons of abandoned nets, representing significant progress in reducing marine pollution. Furthermore, due to transparent resource management and achieved results, Ocean Conservancy approved the expansion of the grant to $30,000 for the next project, eliminating the need for competitive funding.

Community Education and Awareness
This year, we expanded our educational talks to over 1,300 children in elementary schools in Santa Rosalía, Heroica Mulegé, and San Bruno, making a considerable impact on raising awareness among new generations about the importance of sustainable fishing. These efforts were made possible thanks to our donors’ support and funding from Ocean Conservancy through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative.

Highlighted Projects

"Moments of the Sea"
In 2024, the project "Moments of the Sea", led by Dr. Julio Parra, was submitted to PACMYC, a government cultural support program. This project has made it possible to create a photo and video gallery to raise community awareness about the importance of fishing in our lives, showcasing its cultural and economic relevance.

First Seafood Gastronomic Festival
In collaboration with the State of Sonora Elementary School, we organized the First Seafood Gastronomic Festival in the community of San Lucas. This event, which involved students and parents, promoted recognition of the value of fishing in nutrition and the culinary creativity of marine products.

Restoration of the "Western Flyer" Ship
Thanks to the support of Dr. William Gilly and collaboration with the Western Flyer Foundation, the iconic research vessel Western Flyer, restored by the foundation, will visit our community in May 2025. This visit will mark the ship’s return to the Gulf of California 84 years after John Steinbeck’s original journey. Students from Stanford University and ITESME will participate in this activity, fostering learning and a connection between educational institutions and the local community.

Impact and Gratitude

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our donors. Your support has been essential to carrying out our projects and continuing our mission to promote sustainable fishing in the region. Thanks to your contributions, we have made significant progress in the conservation of our marine ecosystems and the well-being of our fishing communities.

In 2024, we witnessed growth in our management capacities, a strengthening of our relationships with new organizations, and the consolidation of a long-term commitment to sustainability. None of this would have been possible without your support.

Looking to the Future

In 2025, we will continue our efforts to collect and reuse abandoned fishing nets, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of this waste. We will also keep working with our fishing communities to improve fishing practices and strengthen social responsibility in the region.

We deeply appreciate your continued support and invite you to remain part of this movement toward a more sustainable future.

Conclusion

This report reflects the joint work we have carried out throughout 2024 thanks to your generous support. As we move into 2025, your contribution remains fundamental to our success. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the coming years.

Thank you for being part of this effort and for helping us build a more sustainable future!

Sincerely,
The Sustainable Fisheries Program Team