Enrique Fernandez del Castillo, president
of the Foundation for the Conservation of Picudos, BC, challenges claims by the
authorities that the reduction in numbers of certain marine species in the waters
of BCS are due simply to climate change.
Although there is no hard and fast
scientific evidence for this claim, he concedes that it may account for a very
small part of this reduction in numbers. However, his counter claim is that the
overwhelming reason is due to illegal over fishing of species such as marlin and
mahi-mahi. This is seriously affecting sports fishing in Los Cabos.
Castillo, who owns several sport
fishing boats, points out that sport fishing is a tightly regulated industry. And
whilst they are allowed to catch a certain amount of fish, tourist service
providers have self-regulated this to half the permitted number to minimise
effects on stocks.
“Our activity has little effect on the
ecosystem, what is much more serious are the longliner fishing boats which cast
miles of hooked lines to sea. A catch from just one longliner is equivalent to
the catch for the entire 650 fleet of sport fishing boats in Cabo, " he
said.
Castillo says inspection and surveillance
is very weak, and the authorities are far too complacent. "We hope that this administration will sort things
out, and will severely sanction those who sell marlin. It is a serious crime and
the corruption needs to be stopped”.