The Gulf of California – also known as “the world’s aquarium” – is internationally renowned for its biodiversity. This most biologically rich sea of the world is home to over 5000 marine species, including sea turtles, marine mammals such as dolphins and orcas, as well as a variety of endemic fish, like the Mexican hogfish, the blacknose butterflyfish and the peacock fish.
Additionally, various whale species, such as the blue whale and the gray whale, are regular inhabitants of the gulf as they use its protected waters to calve their young. Estimates reach more than 300 individuals, from a variety of species, as being semi-resident in its waters. Now, however, a new, vast natural gas depot threatens these incredible creatures as never before.
The new development, known as Proyecto Saguaro of Mexico Pacific is proposed for remote Puerto Libertad in Sonora as a point of export for the Asian market. The project would see an enormous pipeline of 800 kilometers running from Texas, across Chihuahua, and through to the Gulf of California. The site itself, of 400 hectares, would transform the small community of Puerto Libertad with the arrival of an estimated 450 vessels a year, each measuring 300 meters long, frequenting the waters in the gulf ready to load and transport gas across the Pacific.
Since the project was proposed, activists like Alekz Aguila Sáinz of Climate Connections have highlighted the risks to cetaceans, in particular collisions with large ships. Worldwide, thousands of whales are being injured or killed due to these events, to the extent that leading Ocean Advocacy organization Ocean Wise has stated that “collisions are the leading cause of death worldwide for large whale species.”
Whales are also especially vulnerable to sonar disruptions, incidents that leave them deaf or disoriented. “Hearing is essential for a whale’s survival,” says Sáinz, “and the sonar of these ships will cover a very large impact area, which makes the consequences beyond imaginable.” Often, after sonar episodes, whales even strand on beaches in an attempt to escape. According to the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, “the issue of (military) sonar is a ‘smoking gun’ in relation to its possible link to cetacean strandings, injuries and mortalities.” Scientists have found a most likely reason for these kinds of escape attempts “as the loud sounds trigger the same fear response as when the animals hear calls emitted by one of their most terrifying predators: killer whales”, as published in the journal Science.
Alongside great specific risks for whales, there are some general risks to consider as well for the ecosystems that they inhabit. In particular, the 800-kilometer pipeline has a huge risk of leaking gas, which would threaten the entire ecosystem in the Gulf of California should a major incident occur. Furthermore, the megaplant flares are continually burning, leading to pollution of the air. “Additionally, the pipeline crosses through an area which has a huge and recurring risk of wildfires,” explains Sáinz, “not to mention toxic chemicals used by the vessels in their general running and maintenance.” Remarkably, in excess of 50% of fishing catches in Mexico come from the Gulf of California, and any kind of chemical incident in the area would not only decimate the environment but this industry as well.
“There is a lot at stake for the community of La Paz and its unique surroundings,” says Sáinz, “if Proyecto Saguaro of Mexico Pacific is to be realised. La Paz’s economy is highly dependent on fish exports. Furthermore, La Paz attracts an increasing number of tourists discovering the beauty of the Gulf of California. The unavoidable risks this new gas project incorporates could bring down these important economic resources dramatically. The government of México promises development, and enabling the gas project would mean job opportunities. But what kind of jobs? Temporary ones. It would mean that the community inevitably needs to change their way of life and would destroy history, heritage, and natural resources.”
Sáinz feels there is hope, however: “We’re in a whirlwind, but civic organizations here in La Paz are doing anything they can to prevent the realization of the project. The people of La Paz are a highly resistant and engaged population.” For decades now the resident population of Baja California Sur has fought hard against such harmful initiatives to protect their precious environment and livelihoods. In this latest fight, they may need all the strength and resilience they have learned over those years.
For Times New Mexico, Eline Vermeulen in Baja California
TYT Newsroom
