By José Antonio Pérez
CONANP. April 21, 2020. The “Grupo Lobos” community monitoring group of the R. Campodonico Ejido, coordinated by the National Commission on Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), rescued a young California sea lion from a net meant to catch sole (lenguado) near Bird Island (Isla San Jorge), located approximately 25 miles from Puerto Peñasco.
Grupo Lobos leader Manuel de Jesús Muñoz Espinoza alerted CONANP personnel so necessary attention could be given to the entangled sea lion. The successful rescue was carried out based on recommendations learned in the 2018 and 2019 theoretical-practice trainings on Disentangling Sea Lions. These training courses have been promoted by CONANP, in conjunction with specialists from the Wild Life Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Research Center, the Marine Mammal Center of Sauzalito, CA, as well as participation and support of PROFEPA (Federal Environmental Protection Office) and the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO).
This demonstrates the best path to conserve natural resources in Mexico is through the involvement of residents in communities who live within or near Natural Protected Areas. In turn, these communities become empowered through training and environmental education.
It is worth noting in 2019 Manuel de Jesús Muñoz Espinoza was honored with first place nationally in Nature Conservation Recognition, which is granted annually by CONANP, for his extensive history in community work to conserve biodiversity in the Islands of the Gulf of California-Sonora Protection Area, and particularly in the area of Isla San Jorge.
The California sea lion is currently listed by NOMO59-SEMARNAT as a species under special protection.