Laguna San Ignacio

Home to gray whales, dolphins, sea birds, orcas and sea lions, the San Ignacio Lagoon on the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula is a perfect location for observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Scientists use this lagoon for observing behavior and feeding patterns. Once a hotbed for poaching, residents are beginning to promote conservation tourism. In addition to its incredible biodiversity, the lagoon has also been named a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance.

The famous “friendly gray whales” are a popular ecotourism attraction here. In 1972 a local fisherman, Francisco Mayoral, first realized that the whales were not the threat that people long thought they were. Known locally as “devil fish”, fishermen nervously avoided contact with the whales. The whale that approached Francisco kept approaching him until he realized it was no threat. Now the main source of employment for nearby communities, Francisco’s son Pancho is one of the region’s best guides and his brother Ranulfo leads the local turtle monitoring efforts.

El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve

Protecting the lagoon is Mexico’s largest protected area at more than 2.5 million hectares (nearly 6.2 million acres). Along the Pacific coast, north of Magdalena Bay, this reserve is a mixture of small fishing communities, ancient petroglyphs, stark desert landscapes, mangroves, dunes, and lagoons. Three gray whale calving spots including Laguna San Ignacio are included in the reserve. The reserve protects more than 300 species of vertebrates (both marine and terrestrial), 120 species of birds, 5 species of sea turtles, and 44 terrestrial mammal species including puma, bobcat, bighorn sheep, and kit foxes.

This unique region is under threat from a number of human activities. As across the peninsula, attempts to build large-scale coastal development projects are fought by strong coalitions of local residents and local, regional, and international conservation organizations. Unsustainable fishing is a major threat to ocean wildlife, both entangling creatures in the gear as well as taking away their main source of food. Land-based threats also affect both the desert and ocean, including mining, grazing, agriculture, and pollution. Poaching remains a major issue as well.

Sea Turtle Monitoring

Ranulfo Mayoral, born and raised near the lagoon, has led research efforts here for several years, coordinating a group of local helpers with the aid of the Grupo Tortuguero.  Earthwatch Expeditions also supports research here on greens (also known as "Pacific black turtles").  Researchers Volker Koch and William Megill are studying where the turtles go while in the area, using radio and GPS tagging as well as sonar mapping.

Check out our videos and slideshows.

Links & Articles

Grupo Tortuguero

The Surprisingly Social Gray Whale - NPR (July 09)

NRDC Biogems - Baja

WiLDCOAST - Save the Gray Whale Fund

Parks Watch - El Vizcaino