40,000 totoaba offspring individuals were released in Baja California Sur, Mexico

The fishery of totoaba, an endemic species of Mexico, was one of the most important economic activities in the Gulf of California. However, totoaba was also one of the first species to show evidence of overexploitation as a result of alterations in its spawning and growing habitat.

As part of the effort to restock the Gulf of California with this fish, Earth Ocean Farms (EOF), with the support of the federal and local governments, released for the fifth time 40,000 juvenile totoaba, raised through sustainable aquaculture practices.

The fish were released in the Santispack Beach, Municipality of Mulege, Baja California Sur, a unique place for this species. Representatives of Semarnat, Conapesca, as well as local communities, attended this event with a common objective: the preservation of totoaba.

Since 2013, EOF, a company based in La Paz, Mexico, breeds high-quality totoaba intended for human consumption, and manages a marine fish hatchery in an ecological and sustainable way. Such work does not only help to counteract the effects of the exploitation of this species, but it also creates jobs and drives economic development in the region.

“The totoaba is an endangered species, so we pursue to breed it in the most environmentally and responsible way. This release has two goals: first, getting the community involved, especially children, who are the next generation that must know how to protect the environment; and second, delivering fish of a farmed species that are 100% legal, nutritional and healthy through our Management Unit for the Conservation of Wildlife”, said Pablo Konietzko, CEO at EOF.

For the past five years, the company has developed an innovative plan to breed and release totoaba, thus contributing to restock the sea of Cortez and ensure its conservation. Despite being produced legally, international regulations still prohibit exporting the totoaba raised by EOF.

In this regard, the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of Mexico, has reaffirmed his commitment to eliminate illegal fishing and drive the development of fishing communities, as well as to create the enabling environment for the totoaba to recover. He also expressed his appreciation for the support from the local government to meet this goal.

On the other hand, the National Commissioner for CONAPESCA, said he was interested in supporting these efforts that benefit the local population, in addition to work in a consistent and transparent way to meet the needs of the fishing and aquaculture industry.