2018 Articles & Videos

We invite you to browse through these articles and videos. Some local and some worldwide, some written by SeaWatch and some reprinted and reposted from online and magazines. These articles and videos show the success of SeaWatch, the changes in the Sea of Cortez and the world's oceans.

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New ROC Patrol Boat
28' and Powered by a Suzuki 175 hp Motor

Here is a picture of what your donation helped pay for in 2018. It is the new patrol boat to which SeaWatch donated $17,400.00 for a new 175 HP Suzuki motor, hydraulics and running gear. Since March of 2018 it has been operating daily with up to 6 officials from the NAVY, CONANP, PROFEPA and CONAPESCA (Mexican Fisheries) aboard depending on the type and location of the patrol. Read More...

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti - 2018
Local Grassroots Campaign

2018 was a busy year for the Espiritu Santo es parte de ti (Espiritu Santo is part of you) campaign. Projects included video production, work towards a single-use plastics ban, local school presentations, an art competition, mural painting, and an appearance on TEDx talks. All while continuing the teams efforts towards parrotfish protection in restaurants, grocery stores and the legal protection of the species. Read More...

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ROC - 2018
Citizen-Driven Vigilance To Stop Illegal Fishing!

In 2017, ROC's patrol boats assisted federal fisheries authorities with the confiscation of 13 illegal fishing boats, including equipment and catch. In 2018, SeaWatch provided $20,000 to ROC for a new 175 HP Suzuki motor and a bigger patrol boat. Since April of 2018 there have been no boats caught illegally fishing at Espiritu Santo National Park. Fish populations, already on the rise in 2017, have made a dramatic comeback, especially the heavily targeted parrotfish. Read More...

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It Takes a City To Save An Island

Watch this video showing the progress of SeaWatch, ROC and Espiritu Santo es parte de ti. The video shows the condition of the reefs in 2015 and the return of the fish in 2018. See the progress of both SeaWatch funded campaigns through 2018 and how your donations have made a significant difference to the recovery process.  See it here...

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Fang Ming - The First Vessel
Artificial Reef In Latin America

In 1999 the vessel Fang Ming was intentionally sunk on the west side of Espiritu Santo Island as a safe and clean dive site. Today, 17 years later, the wreck of the Fang Ming enjoys the protection of the Marine Park and is full of life. Fishing is forbidden on the site, with the result that fish are plentiful and approachable. On our last visit, this November, we were able to closely observe a pair of green turtles on the deck, a sea lion resting inside the wreck all kinds of moray eels and lots of Cortez angelfish big parrotfish and groupers, and schools of snappers and grunts. See the new video here and click here to read more about this successful SeaWatch project.

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti
and ROC Progress
Update August 2018

Read through these pages and watch the videos to learn of the amazing progress in the recovery of the Espiritu Santo National Park. Through the ongoing efforts of the two SeaWatch supported campaigns Espiritu Santo es parte de ti (Espiritu Santo is part of you) and "ROC" the restoration of the depleted reefs and reef fish is becoming a success. Read the Article Here...

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti
Involves the Kids

The campaign team heads to the schools to show the importance of conservation. The following video shows the important work of Espiritu Santo es parte de ti (Espiritu Santo is part of you) in community awareness. The team made presentations at La Paz schools of all educational levels Read More...

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Parrotfish Recovery

Espiritu Santo es parte de ti was started 15 months ago with a goal of helping Espiritu Santo National Park's depleted fisheries recover and create a thriving reef ecosystem. Healthy reefs need parrotfish. There were almost no parrotfish 15 months ago. Amazing what happens when you stop the illegal killing of 3-5 tons of parrot fish weekly and 31 restaurants and 4 supermarkets agree to quit selling it. See it here...

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Paulina Martinez and Reef Restoration

The Espiritu Santo es parte de ti campaign team interviewed Paulina Martínez. Paulina is working on her doctorate at the La Paz UABCS University. She is part of a group from the reef systems laboratory at the university who are working to restore the coral reefs at two sites (El Corralito and Swanee Rock) in Espiritu Santo National Park. Watch the video and see how divers can help this project...

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Interview With the Owner of Tacos Albatros

Tacos Albatros was established in La Paz 35 years ago. The owner, Hugo Sepúlveda Puppo speaks to Espiritu Santo es parte de ti on fishing techniques and the declining fish population. He understands the importance of the commitment we must all maintain to restore and protect the Espiritu Santo National Park. Watch the video interview...

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What's New at SeaWatch

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SeaWatch Annual Holiday Raffle

This year's annual holiday raffle in support of our SeaWatch projects featured this beautiful, limited edition bronze sculpture, called Making Waves, donated by Scott Hanson.

This is one of Scott's most popular sculptures and and sold in major galleries for $7200.00. Read More...

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti
2019-2020

Espíritu Santo es parte de ti (Espiritu Santo is dart of you) is a grassroots campaign working to raise public awareness and advocacy, promote community pride and best practices and eradicate illegal fishing in Espiritu Santo National Park, in particular parrotfish, a reef grazing species that is critical to the maintenance of healthy reefs. Vibrant, healthy reefs cannot survive without grazers Read More...

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti -March 2020

March has been a month that took us all by surprise! We started with all the energy, planning our annual fundraising event. Suddenly the world turned upside down. In these scary and wild times, we wonder how long will this last? All this definitely made us reorder our priorities and focus on the things that matter the most Read More...

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SeaWatch Year End Raffle

The lucky winner is Gordon Harris! Scott Hanson donated his popular “Winter Song” sculpture to SeaWatch for our year-end raffle. This beautiful sculpture was raffled in January. We thank you for your support of the raffle and look forward to your support and the success of future raffles. Money raised helped SeaWatch fund the organizations vital to the recovery of the Sea of Cortez. Watch the video of Scott Hanson here...

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Espiritu Santo es parte de ti
Featured in Conservation Watch Magazine

Conservation Watch Magazine Is published by the Garden Club of America's conservation committee members. It's a quarterly online newsletter featuring conservation and environmental news. SeaWatch is proud of the campaign we originated and support Espiritu Santo es parte de ti (Espiritu Santo is part of you) and their feature article in this magazine. Read the article...

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Gillnetting Protected Mobula Rays
See This Recent Video and Act Today

The Mobula Rays are a joy to watch as these expert acrobats jump, twirl and belly flop through the sea. The Sea of Cortez is the world's premium destination for viewing the largest schools in the world, sometimes exceeding 10,000 individuals. They are seasonal visitors and visit Baja in May-July and November - January. These rays are protected by Mexican Law Read More...

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