Gulf of Mexico · Yucatán · Active Operation
Defending
The Reef
6,300 square miles. Two ships. One permanent mission.
Defending The Reef
Two vessels. Permanent presence. A 6,300 square mile corridor that now has defenders for the first time.
A Reef Worth Fighting For
Alacranes Reef and Bajos del Norte are biologically significant reef systems in the Gulf of Mexico, functioning as breeding and nursery grounds for commercially valuable fish species and supporting sea turtle nesting and reproductive activity. Their isolation makes them ecologically important and operationally vulnerable.
Industrial scale poaching can remove large volumes of catch before enforcement agencies are able to respond. Unlike earlier expedition style deployments, this operation reflects sustained presence structured for continuity rather than episodic intervention.
Together the corridor covers over 6,300 square miles of protected ocean in the Gulf of Mexico — two parks, two ships, one permanent mission.
What Threatens It
Latest from the Operation January 2026: 1,543 lbs of illegal catch seized at Scorpion ReefOne vessel intercepted. 700 kg of illegally caught fish seized. Vessel detained for permanent seizure by Mexican authorities.
See all updates ↓Poachers strip spawning aggregations of queen conch, squid, octopus, grouper, amberjack, and snapper before enforcement can reach them. Remoteness is their greatest advantage.
Discarded nets strangle coral colonies and ensnare everything from lobsters to green sea turtles, catching indiscriminately long after the boats that set them are gone.
Sea turtle nesting and breeding is disrupted by illegal access, boat traffic, and gear entanglement during critical reproductive periods.
Vessels without permits cause anchor damage, spear fishing, and line fishing inside sanctuary boundaries. Routine battles for our crews.
What Our Crews Do
Continuous patrol of the 6,306 sq mile corridor, deterring illegal access through sustained visible presence.
Boarding and inspecting suspicious vessels in coordination with Mexican authorities, building legal cases for permanent seizure.
Confiscating illegally caught fish and gear from poaching vessels operating inside protected waters.
Underwater surveys to assess coral health, document illegal fishing below the surface, and remove ghost gear.
Monitoring nesting and breeding activity during critical reproductive periods in partnership with Mexican agencies.
Expanding federal enforcement into reef systems that previously lacked consistent oversight, increasing deterrence and accountability.
The Response
Hardware Deployed
Sea Shepherd brings fifty years of experience defending wildlife in some of the world's most remote and hostile environments. Partnering with government agencies lets us pair that expertise with legal enforcement authority to create lasting protection for marine wildlife that neither can achieve alone.
MV Roger Payne
Named for Dr. Roger Payne, marine biologist whose humpback whale research catalyzed the global Save the Whales movement
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MV Sharkwater
Named in honor of filmmaker Rob Stewart, whose documentary exposed the global shark fin trade and reshaped public awareness around ocean exploitation
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From the Field
Meet Laura Sanchez
Sea Shepherd marine biologist, currently deployed at Scorpion Reef.
"Because of you, we're out here — diving, documenting, and stopping harm before it spreads."Laura Sánchez · Sea Shepherd Marine Biologist · Scorpion Reef
Keep Laura
on the Reef
The Direct Action Crew (DAC) is Sea Shepherd's community of monthly supporters — the people who fund the fuel, the dives, and the patrols that keep crews like Laura's permanently deployed at Scorpion Reef.
A permanent operation requires permanent funding. Without monthly supporters, ships come home. With them, the reef stays defended year-round.
