The creation of a Marine Protected Area or a Biosphere Reserve similar to "El Vizcaino," has recently been proposed. The main goals of this type of Marine Protected Area are to:

• Bring a state of order (scientific organization) to fishing so that the destruction of certain species does not occur.
• Promote the regeneration of lost species.
• Promote tourism.
• Generate more and better jobs for the local community.

We can take a real life example to see positive results. The North Pacific Region (from Point Abreojos to Cedar Island) is made up of communities that are located INSIDE the Biosphere Reserve called "El Vizcaino". This reserve is a natural area where fisheries are handled better, and are the most productive in all of Mexico.

In the North Pacific region there are about 500 fishermen who make up nine cooperatives. These cooperatives watch over the capturing of fish (taking into account the size and age of those fish captured, making sure to return the youthful to the sea), catch lobsters, abalone, conch, and sea turtles. They all live very well, residing in well built houses, they receive social security, a retirement pension, and are able to provide a good education for their children. This could also become a reality for all communities on the fishing grounds in northwest Mexico.

The nine cooperatives annually make approximately 20 million dollars from their lobster, 25 million from their abalone, and 1 million from their conch. "The sea can provide a good living, but only if we take care of its resources. The world desires sea food and will pay for it," declares one cooperative member, adding that, "To live well one must take the reins and bring order to ones productive activity."

"The marine protected areas are zones in which fish seem to gravitate, balancing out the exploitation of the fishing resources with its conservation. This gives the fish and other resources an opportunity to reproduce and thus generate wealth," explains Gustavo Danneman, director of Conservation of Pronatura Northwest, in Baja California.

The marine biologist added that, "among their functions, the marine protected areas work with the administration and the fisheries to continue the fight against illegal fishing."

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