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Final Report to the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission Contract T10155592

Download the Paper (159 K, PDF file) - October 1, 1995 Tell a colleague about it. Printing Tips: Select 'print as image' in the Acrobat print dialog if you have trouble printing.

ABSTRACT:
This report identifies activities that could have a negative impact on two gray whale calving/breeding habitats, namely Laguna San Ignacio and Bahia Magdalena. This report descibres (1) the natural history, exploitation, protection, and status of gray whales in Mexico; (2) the physical and human geography of the study area; (3) past conservation efforts in the study area; (4) the environmental management structure in the study area and the environmental impact review process in Mexico; (5) past, existing, and planned development and commercial activities in the study area; and (6) impediments to assessment and control of activities with potentially adverse impacts and possible means to improve gray whale conservation. The greatest potential threats to the whales and their habitat are from: 1) the proposed development of a salt production facility near Laguna San Ignacio; 2) a proposed resort development at Bahia Magdalena; and 3) the continued growth of gray whale tourism in Bahia Magdalena. Strict review and monitoring of human activities by Mexican agencies under existing environmental impact assessment regulations, and the review of project plans and tourism activities by non-governmental organizations, and scientists familiar with gray whale habitat, should help to minimize potentially adverse impacts.

SUGGESTED CITATION:
Serge Dedina and Emily Young, "Conservation and Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons of Baja California Sur, Mexico" (October 1, 1995). Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library. Paper 16.
http://repositories.cdlib.org/sio/lib/16