The Gulf of California, located between mainland Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula, is recognized worldwide for its unique characteristics, and conservation and economic value.
In addition to being the only sea in the world that falls within the jurisdiction of only one country, it is Mexico’s most productive fishing zone. The Gulf of California is also a highly bio-diverse environment where numerous species feed and reproduce, including 30 percent of the world’s marine mammals. Its islands harbor vital seabird nesting sites and dozens of endemic species of terrestrial mammals, reptiles, and plants.
The Packard Foundation supports organizations in Mexico and elsewhere that strive to protect the Gulf of California region, while sustainably using its biological resources.
The goals of the Gulf of California subprogram are:
- Improve the sustainability of fisheries and strengthen conservation of marine resources in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other conservation priority areas
- Reduce the impact of the shrimp fishery while optimizing the economic value of catch, and
- Maintain the ecological integrity of key coastal sites.
The Foundation supports:
- Plans, community outreach, field activities, and policy analysis needed to improve management and sustainability of fisheries within MPAs and other conservation priority areas
- Improvement of the overall effectiveness of MPAs
- Collaboration with the Mexican government and the fishing sector in the development and implementation of alternative technologies and management scenarios for shrimp fisheries
- Improving market chains for sustainable seafood
- Restoration on islands
- Conservation of key coastal wetlands, and
- Promotion of coastal development that minimizes ecological impact and provides durable economic benefits.
To further the Foundation’s goals of coastal restoration, development, and conservation, we work with our Western Conservation subprogram to establish various mechanisms for coastal land conservation in Northwest Mexico.
The Foundation only funds projects that conform to the objectives of the subprogram and that play a pivotal role in promoting marine and coastal sustainability in the Gulf of California. Books, documentaries, videos, and research unrelated to these goals are not considered.
(Photo: Miguel Angel de la Cueva)
