I have heard, and seen on the BBC, reports that gill netters have destroyed the pelagic life of the "Mexican Galapagos". It's a pity, because I had planned a trip for 2010. Can anyone say what has happened?
Tim
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Socorro Islands
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I have heard, and seen on the BBC, reports that gill netters have destroyed the pelagic life of the "Mexican Galapagos". It's a pity, because I had planned a trip for 2010. Can anyone say what has happened?
Tim
I was on the first trip this season on the solmar. quick edit from that trip
The mantas were still there plus schools of hammerheads etc. You are right gill netters are impacting this area but its still a great location and the dive operators are hoping that by their presence at the sites it will keep the poachers out of the area. It can be a great location and I would not worry about the pelagics being wipped out. On a trip last year (early season) we came across a large gill net that had drifted over san benedicto and it did have various pelagics caught in the net. We spent a day trying to cut it loose. I actually think that the BBC report may have been about that event from 2007 (did not see the BBC report)
highlights from varous trips over the years.
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Defintly has been gill netters.
See link.
Supposedly since these shots early this year there have been regular patrols to protect the Islands.
Reports after this event say that there is still plenty of life at the islands. I have been there about 4 years in a row. This year was the worst I saw for sealife. Then we found the shark fishermen on the last day.
