By José Antonio Pérez
Despite the heavy burden of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, with the absence of human activity on Puerto Peñasco’s beaches for nearly two months, prevention measures are curiously having a positive impact on conservation.
Nelida Barajas Acosta, Director of the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), stated that mother nature is reclaiming its place, allowing for more diverse marine life to approach the coast.
She explained the absence of human activity, which is noisy in essence, can be observed in the Sea of Cortez as it provides a more favorable environment for wildlife, and will most likely provide for better development of the same.
Acosta detailed a third of the world’s marine mammals visit the Gulf of California. With the absence of human activity this has only been intensified, just like the bio-luminescence on beaches, as well as other natural phenomena.
All of this shows that not all is lost, and that this pandemic can provide important lessons for conservation. There is also hope that when activities resume, what has been gained in the area of nature does not take a step back.
Throughout the stay at home instructions, CEDO has been able to partially continue their work in contributing, along with fishermen, to ensure a sustainable Gulf of California.