Quino El Guardian and Rocio Del Mar
are proud to support community projects for marine
conservation in Mexico through our alliance with the NGO COBI.
Thank you to all of our guests for their support
and involvement in this initiative.
Protecting our community and marine resources
one donation at a time!
WHAT IS COBI?
COBI is a Mexican non-profit organization that was established in 1999 in order to mitigate the unsustainable use of marine resources and the subsequent degradation of marine ecosystems. This situation is the result of four different causes. First, the absence of a common vision and understanding within the fishing industry. Second, the shortage of responsible fishing practices. Third, the lack of marine restoration measures. And finally, weak citizen participation in the use of marine resources. Through our four strategic lines, we cultivate solutions for each of these problems, working to secure ocean conservation and attain a more sustainable approach to marine resources.
HOW DO WE WORK?
Our work is based on the transparent participation of all stakeholders and interest groups involved in the use of fishery resources in particular and oceans in general. In this way, we generate high quality, participatory scientific practices that help to create replicable models to reverse the degradation of Mexico’s three main marine ecosystems: the giant kelp forest in Baja California, the rocky reef in the Gulf of California, and the Mesoamerican coral reef.
STRATEGIC LINES
CAPACITY-BUILDING OF LEADERS AND FISHING ORGANIZATIONS
We train and organize stakeholders involved with coastal communities to achieve legal, consensual, inclusive, sustainable, and competitive fishing practices.
SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
We promote international standards for responsible fisheries to improve fishing practices.
MARINE RESERVES
In cooperation with key local stakeholders, we design, implement, and monitor areas in which the extraction of resources from the marine ecosystem (whether fishing resources or otherwise) is suspended, so as to foster the restoration of marine biodiversity both within and beyond the reserves, as well as to improve communities’ fishing productivity. These marine reserves can be implemented either voluntarily (by general consensus among stakeholders) or legally (through environmental and/or fisheries legislation).
PUBLIC POLICY
Based on the results of our strategic lines, we promote proposals for the improvement of national public policy focused on fishery and marine conservation.
79,500 marine hectares restores of which 21,000 of those hectares are devoted to fish refuges while 58,500 are marine protected areas.
14,000 beneficiaries.
100+ marine species managed in a sustainable way.
300+ species monitored (both flora and fauna).
3 scientific publications per year, on average.
COBI HAS THREE PRIORITY MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
KELP FOREST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
100+ community divers trained in submarine and oceanographic monitoring including 18 women.
Pacific lobster certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Amberjack Yellowtail from Natividad Island named "best choice" by the Seafood Watch Program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
GULF OF CALIFORNIA ROCKY REEF
Participatory design and monitoring of seven marine reserves covering a total of 15,754 hectares in the Gulf of California.
Monterey Sardine certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Introduction of legal management of four kinds of dams and pen shells.
10 sustainable fishing projects implemented by 15 trained community leaders, including fisherman and women.
MESOAMERICAN REEF
6 teams of community divers representing each cooperative.
72 community divers take part in monitoring.
Creation of 4 fish refuge networks.
Monitoring of the sustainable Caribbean Lobster, named "best choice" by the Seafood Watch Program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.