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ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJAPOST/EDITOR
More than 70 thousand Totoaba mcdonaldi “baby specimens” (elevines in Spanish) were released in the Gulf of California by the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). This is, so far, the largest number of fish introduced into the sea in a single day, as it represents almost half of those that have historically been released from 1997 to 2022.
These Totoaba baby specimens were reproduced in captivity at the Fish Farming Biotechnology Unit (UBP) of the Faculty of Marine Sciences, through the scientific work carried out for almost 30 years by a group of researchers from the UABC for the conservation of this species. marine and endemic to the upper Gulf of California.
The totoaba «babies» were released in Tourist Camp No. 1, with the support of the University community, residents of San Felipe and authorities from the three levels of government, who formed a human chain so that the organisms were introduced to the sea.
Prior to the release ceremony, UABC Dean, Doctor Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, praised the research work led by Dr. Conal David True, academic head of the UBP, since it generated the bases to develop biotechnology for the reproduction of the totoaba in captivity, which allowed the recovery of this species that was classified as endangered in 1991, but now maintains its vulnerable status.
«With this project we hope that, in the near future, the commercial reproduction of this species can be strengthened in sustainable conditions, both environmentally, economically and socially, so that the Baja Californian families that have historically lived associated with the totoaba, are the main beneficiaries. of the work that the university does,” said Dr. Palafox Maestre.
Dr. True mentioned that from its beginnings this conservation project had the intention of returning to the community of San Felipe the resource for which it was founded. “The totoaba is really the founder of this municipality, San Felipe was a fishing camp and we want that to return, but in an orderly and sustainable way,” he specified.
He noted that they are currently developing a project to fatten totoaba in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Oceanic Aquarium company, in which they seek to involve the community. “I think San Felipe deserves it, needs it, so I am very excited,” commented Dr. True.
On behalf of the Government of the State of Baja California, teacher Mónica Juliana Vega Aguirre attended, who highlighted that the UABC has had an important and transcendental role in the repopulation of the totoaba, as well as other species in Baja California, for which she expressed : “Hence the pride of our university and that our institutions continue to help for the benefit of the San Felipe population and all of Baja California.”
Professor María de los Ángeles Cauich García attended on behalf of Semarnat, congratulating the university students for their commitment to generating information that can be used to make decisions, as occurred with the research headed by Dr. True.
