On May 6th, 2025, Pedro Álvarez Icaza —the newly appointed Commissioner of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP)—visited San Felipe, Baja California, and stepped aboard Sea Shepherd’s MV Seahorse. This marked the first visit by a high-level official from Mexico’s new Administration to one of our vessels operating in the Vaquita Refuge.
The visit underscored the strength of Sea Shepherd’s partnership with the Government of Mexico and highlighted the urgency of the work being done to protect the vaquita porpoise from extinction.
In San Felipe, the Commissioner observed how illegal fishing gear—confiscated or found abandoned—is permanently taken out of circulation. Once authorized by Mexican agencies, the nets are manually disabled by SEMAR (the Mexican Navy), Sea Shepherd crew, and volunteers. The gear is then destroyed using an industrial shredder donated by Sea Shepherd.
On board the Seahorse, Commissioner Álvarez Icaza met with the ship’s captain and Sea Shepherd’s campaign directors for Mexico and the Upper Gulf of California. On the bridge, he was shown the ship’s advanced radar and sonar systems that power 24/7 surveillance of the Zero Tolerance Zone (ZTZ)—the heart of the Vaquita Refuge. This area, first established in 2020, is fortified with more than 400 concrete blocks and embedded hooks placed by SEMAR to trap illegal nets before they can do harm.
Sea Shepherd’s crew presented the latest results from Operation Milagro Vaquita Defense—a decade-long direct action campaign that was reaffirmed last November under a new framework with the Government of Mexico. With constant patrols and rapid coordination between partners, the campaign has driven a 95% drop in illegal fishing activity and nearly eliminated fishing gear in the ZTZ.
Commissioner Álvarez Icaza also reviewed recent vaquita population data, including acoustic detections and visual sightings. Encouraging signs—such as the appearance of calves and juveniles—were highlighted as proof that this collaborative effort is making an impact.
In September, Sea Shepherd will lead with CONANP the next major vaquita survey, bringing together national and international scientists and—critically—young observers from San Felipe. For the first time, the expedition will use both the Seahorse and the Bob Barker to expand coverage and improve results.
The Commissioner’s visit sends a strong signal: Mexico’s top conservation officials recognize the critical work being done by Sea Shepherd and are committed to keeping the pressure on illegal fishing operations. Together, we are showing what’s possible when governments, conservationists, and communities take bold action—for the ocean, and for the vaquita.
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