Scorpion Reef faces a relentless flow of plastic, discarded gear, and debris driven in by the Gulf’s currents and left behind by visiting boats. With no permanent population on these islands the waste builds with every tide and settles into the reef itself. Working alongside the agencies that protect these waters we help remove the trash that threatens to overwhelm one of the most remote sanctuaries in the region.
A Permanent Presence That Protects the Reef
This work is only possible because it is shared. At Scorpion Reef Sea Shepherd supports patrols and monitoring led by the Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR), the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), and the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT). Their authority and expertise guide the protection of this national park. Our role is to provide a ship, trained crew, and the time on the water needed to back up their decisions and respond quickly when problems appear.
The partnerships here grew out of years of cooperation in the Vaquita Refuge. In the Upper Gulf we learned how powerful it is when government agencies, scientists, and Sea Shepherd crews share information and stay on the water together. That same model now supports Scorpion Reef. The relationships built protecting the critically endangered vaquita now help defend a reef system that is vital to the wider Gulf of Mexico.
See the Mission on the Water
Against that backdrop the cleanup becomes even more urgent. Plastic bottles, containers, clothing, and ghost gear collect on the islands and wedge into the reef just as nets do. The debris does not stop coming and without a steady presence it will never be removed. By remaining in the region, and by working side by side with SEMAR, CONANP, and SEMARNAT, we can reach islands that no one else can reach, lift the trash away, and give this reef a chance to breathe between tides.
