Mexico's Conservation Effort: 40,000 Baby Totoaba Released to Revive Endangered Species

In a significant move to aid an endangered species, Mexico’s Environment Ministry has released 40,000 baby totoaba fish into the Gulf of California. This event signifies the tenth generation of totoaba being reintroduced into their native environment, with the cumulative number now reaching 270,000 over the past decade.

This conservation initiative is a result of a joint effort involving government bodies, the private sector, and civil society. The released baby fish, each about 25 centimeters long, were released at Santispac Beach in Mulegé, Baja California Sur.

Adult totoaba can grow to impressive sizes, reaching up to two meters in length and weighing up to 100 kilograms. These fish are native to the Gulf of California, famously termed “The Aquarium of the World” by marine explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Totoabas have undergone severe population declines due to years of overfishing and illegal trade. Despite a 1975 ban, illegal fishing persists owing to the high demand for the fish’s swim bladder, especially in Asian markets, where it can sell for around $500 per kilogram in Mexico and up to $8,000 worldwide.

To counter illegal trade, the Mexican government has modified tax laws related to imports and exports, giving Santomar, a regenerative aquaculture company, exclusive rights to export totoaba meat under strict traceability rules. However, the sale of swim bladders and live totoaba is still prohibited.

The breeding program owes its achievements to scientific advancements at the Institute of Oceanological Research at the Autonomous University of Baja California, supplemented by a new regenerative aquaculture system in La Paz, which supports larval food production in microalgae-filled tanks.

Additionally, nine Wildlife Conservation Management Units have contributed to the effort by producing approximately 3 million totoabas in recent years, focusing on the Gulf corvina fish.

Officials from the Environment Ministry have compared this conservation milestone to past successes in reviving the California condor and Mexican wolf populations, underscoring that coordinated efforts can indeed save threatened species.

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