ROC

Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizens Observer Network) 

Since the early 1990s, pistoleros and encerradores have stripped the reefs of most fish around Espiritu Santo and in the Bay of La Paz. Pistoleros dive with compressed air and harpoon fish while they sleep at night. Encerradores use compressed air and drive fish into nets located on reefs during the day. Mexican law prohibits using any form of compressed air to extract fish from the ocean.

In 2009 Sea Watch helped start and fund a group called Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizen Observers). The OC program, with former pistoleros running the patrol boat was successful beyond what many imagined. In its first year of operation, OC stopped the killing of over 500 tons of reef fish in the Bay of La Paz and the number of illegal boats was reduced from 29 to just 4.

In 2013, Sea Watch helped the OC program become independent. The new entity was called Red de Observatorio Ciudadano (Citizens Observer Network) or ROC. ROC is dedicated to the surveillance and protection of the natural areas of Balandra, Espíritu Santo and Bahía de La Paz. They are citizen observers who seek to prevent illegal activities through awareness and citizen participation. Their work is based on a collaboration with the users of the Bay of La Paz and with the authorities. ROC has also been licensed as the La Paz Waterkeeper by the Waterkeeper Alliance which is made up of several organizations whose aim is to protect bodies of water for the health and well-being of their users and citizens.

In 2013 SeaWatch funded over $15,000 to update, remodel and power ROC’s new bigger and much safer night patrol boat. The ROC patrol boats do night and day vigilance patrols in the Bay of La Paz. Their normal patrol is 2 days and 2 nights and they travel about 150 miles. The boat is run by ex-pistoleros (illegal fishermen) who are used to running boats at night without lights and know where the illegal boats fish.

Beginning in 2017, ROC patrol boats worked with CONAPESCA (the federal fisheries authority) leading to the confiscation of 13 illegal fishing boats including equipment and catch. 

In 2018, SeaWatch provided almost $20,000 to ROC for a new 175 HP motor and patrol boat making it possible to chase down illegal fishermen and increasing ROC's surveillance in the Bay of La Paz. This boat is bigger allowing the boat to carry ROC's captain and staff, along with authorities from federal fisheries and the Navy. In 2018, ROC traveled over 23,000 km and spent over 3,000 hours on the water in the Bay of La Paz. By the end of 2018 no illegal fishing had been encountered. While this boat will add approx $45,000 (fuel and direct labor) to our annual operating costs it will be critical to have as the large increases in reef fish will also create large increases in illegal fishing activity.

Also in 2018, in response to the tourist closure at Los Islotes ROC collaborated with CONANP (in charge of marine parks and islands) to set up a temporary base camp. For 75 days, staff from ROC and CONANP patrolled the protected area night and day, making contact with an average of 55 boats a day and over 26,000 tourists total, sharing information about the new regulations and reasons for the closure.

In 2018, ROC was recognized by the Mexican Government, through the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, as one of the most important environmental organizations for nature conservation in protected areas, awarding it an Honorary Mention in the "Reconocimiento a la Conservación de la Naturaleza" national award. ROC was also recognized as a model non-profit conservation organization by the Senate.

ROC's citizen-driven ROC vigilance in collaboration with State and Federal authorities produced outstanding results.
In 2017, 13 pangas and equipment were confiscated by federal fisheries.	Two pangas with all equipment and catch confiscated.
These are reef critical parrotfish aboard pistolero boats (boats shooting fish at night using compressed air which is illegal) All catch is confiscated.

It is our goal at SeaWatch to work with and continue to fund ROC to maintain high-quality vigilance of the Bay of La Paz and the Espiritu Santo National Park where illegal activities are a constant threat to successful regeneration.

Visit the ROC website

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