© Earth Ocean Farms
It was the seventh release by EOF and was part of the company's commitment to preserving and protecting the species. The company specialises in state-of-the-art, off-shore aquaculture for the proliferation of native species such as Totoaba macdonaldi and red snapper while generating jobs and contributing to the regional economy. The release was completed with the support of Mexico’s federal and local governments as well as research institutions and community organizations as part of a restocking plan to repopulate the Sea of Cortez.
"Over the past seven years, we have released 175,000 juvenile Totoaba. This means a lot to us, it is a contribution to the environment, to the protection of this iconic species for Mexico that only exists in the Sea of Cortez," said Israel Marqueda, commercial director of EOF, in a press release.
The release was carried out in collaboration with the Direccion General de Vida Silvestre de la Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DGVS), as well as other governmental organizations and NGOs of Mexico in the bay of Santispac, in the municipality of Mulege in Baja California Sur. Local community and youth organisations in Mulegue also participated in the release.
"For us, the involvement of the community in these events is fundamental, especially that of the children, because a sustainable future depends on the investment of future generations. The fact that the children get to release the fish into the water gives them a sense of responsibility for the hatchlings and helps them become more aware of what the positive long-term impacts will be," remarked Marqueda.
Success indicators from previous releases show that up to 98 percent of juveniles survive during transport and release. Population monitoring of the species in the Sea of Cortez is carried out by government institutions that regulate fisheries in Mexican seas and have the necessary technical infrastructure and professional staff including: specialised vessels, scientific equipment, probes, biologists, fisheries technicians, statisticians and sailors.
