The Mexican government has been criticized for its lack of protection and enforcement measures for loggerhead sea turtles, leading to an increase in the number of turtles being caught in fishing nets and killed. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation released a report highlighting this issue, with concerns raised about the ineffectiveness of Mexico’s efforts to protect these endangered turtles. Since 2019, by-catch quotas in Mexico have been eliminated, and inspections have significantly decreased, resulting in the deaths of thousands of loggerhead sea turtles.
Loggerhead sea turtle deaths and strandings have risen sharply since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018. The number of dead turtles found in the Gulf of Ulloa, a key fishing area off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, increased from 329 between 2015 and 2017 to 1,360 from 2018 to 2020. In the early 2000s, Mexico had set a quota for the number of dead loggerheads in the area, but this quota was eliminated in 2023. Inspections and surveillance actions around the Gulf of Ulloa also saw a significant decrease under López Obrador’s administration.
Mexico has stated that fishing is not the main cause of sea turtle mortality, attributing the deaths to various factors such as predators, boat collisions, pollution, and diseases. However, experts argue that bycatch in fishing gear remains the biggest threat to loggerhead sea turtles. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration emphasizes the importance of using sea turtle-excluder devices on fishing nets to prevent turtle deaths. While fishing is a controllable factor, the Mexican authorities have not taken legal action against fishing boats for killing turtles, according to the report.
The international community is holding Mexico accountable for its failure to protect loggerhead sea turtles, with the U.S. government potentially imposing import bans on Mexican seafood if compliance is not met. Mexico’s Environment Department and Navy did not respond to requests for comment on the report’s findings. The report highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures to protect endangered sea turtles and prevent further deaths due to fishing activities. It also raises concerns about the effectiveness of Mexico’s current approach to marine conservation and biodiversity protection.
Despite Mexico’s claims that fishing is not the primary cause of sea turtle deaths, evidence suggests that bycatch in fishing gear poses a significant threat to loggerhead sea turtles. The report urges Mexico to prioritize the use of sea turtle-excluder devices and increase inspections and surveillance in fishing areas to prevent further deaths. The lack of enforcement and protection measures for loggerhead sea turtles is not only detrimental to the species but also has broader implications for marine biodiversity and conservation efforts. It is essential for Mexico to take immediate action to address these issues and ensure the survival of loggerhead sea turtles in the region.
