SUSTAINABLE USE AND RESEARCH OF THE MAR DE CORTEZ (SURMAR)

APROVECHAMIENTO SUSTENTABLE E INVESTIGACIÓN DEL CENTRO DEL MAR DE CORTÉS (ASIMAR)

http://oceanfdn.org/projects/host-project/surmar-asimar

The SURMAR/ASIMAR program, founded by Dr. William Gilly and Dr. Unai Marcaida, is a fiscal sponsorship project of The Ocean Foundation, Washington, DC. It is a collaboration with the Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Mulegé (ITESME) in Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico, and the Gulf of California International Research Center (GCIRC) is being developed on the ITESME campus. This facility is currently under construction and will be made available to visiting international researchers for projects that are consistent with SURMAR’s mission and goals.

MISSION: Promote sustainability and conservation of natural resources in the Gulf of California, and deepen our understanding of natural processes vital to the health of its diverse ecosystems.

GOALS: Basic Research: Ecology of local marine and terrestrial environments, physiology and behavior of organisms inhabiting these regions, and environmental and climate-related issues. We are working with local fishermen to monitor the status of the Humboldt squid resource and relevant environmental parameters.Applied and Social Research: Sustainable utilization of natural resources, development of new products, and social decision-making in the local fishing industry. We are working with Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI) and Ecologists without Borders (EcoWB) on local Fishery Improvement Programs.Education: Engage students of ITESME and participating institutions in research at the GCIRC and provide training in marine science and technology. Students from ITESME currently participate in monitoring efforts and in OpenROV workshops. Collaborative teaching programs are being developed. Conservation: Monitor rocky intertidal invertebrates, reef fishes, fishery resources and water quality (oxygen and nutrients) locally and in the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve (REBIVI). We are assessing commercial fishing practices in the region in collaboration with EcoWB.Outreach: Develop programs to bring visitors to ITESME and the general community with the goal of solidifying education/technology as a local economic base, including a partnership with the Western Flyer Foundation. Squids4Kids Mexico engages in local primary schools, and we are developing a Fish4Kids partner program. We are developing a bilingual website to describe ongoing SURMAR/ASIMAR activities and to link with other facilities in the Gulf of California.

LOCATION: Santa Rosalia (population ~10,000) supports the major commercial squid fishery in Mexico. Local marine habitats include rocky intertidal, sand flats, shallow bay, estero, mangroves, seamounts and submarine canyons with a prominent Oxygen Minimum Zone. A permanent freshwater stream is also nearby. The Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve is adjacent to Santa Rosalia, and depths within 5 km of shore just north of Santa Rosalia can exceed 600 m. A complete continental-shelf environment is thus included within REBIVI’s boundary. This coastline, more than 100 km long, is inaccessible by land vehicles and remains undeveloped. REBIVI also includes major breeding lagoons for grey whales on the Pacific coast, as well as culturally important cave paintings in various inland locations.

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ITESME students sampling jumbo squid.

PRINCIPAL PARTICIPANTS: Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Mulegé (ITESME) is a 4-year college that trains more than 600 students in science and technology within a framework of community involvement. Programs include electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering, food science, and business administration. Several programs have an individual project requirement, and all degrees have a 6-month community service requirement. Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA is a leading research and teaching institution dedicated to finding solutions to today’s great challenges and preparing students for leadership in a complex world. Enrollment is 7,000 undergraduates and 9,000 graduate students. Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, CA is part of Stanford’s Department of Biology a partner institution with Center for Ocean Solutions, a program of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.The Ocean Foundation (TOF) in Washington, DC supports, strengthens, and promotes organizations that are dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. TOF provides SURMAR with financial, administrative and legal support. Fundación Hagamos más por Santa Rosalía is a community non-profit dedicated to serving Santa Rosalia and has been working with SURMAR in local Squids4Kids Mexico activities.

ADVISORY BOARD: William Gilly, SURMAR Co-director, Stanford University, USA (squid, intertidal invertebrates, water quality)Unai Marcaida, SURMAR Co-Director, Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Campeche, Mexico (squid, octopus, snails)Daniel Madigan, SURMAR Director of Research and DevelopmentJuan Antonio Villavicencio Villalejos, Director General, ITESME Alma Colorado, Fundación Hagamos más por Santa RosaliaOctavio Aburto, UABCS, La Paz, Mexico (reef and mangrove fishes)Michael Beman, UC Merced, USA (microbes, N-cycle, oxygen)Rene Funes, CICIMAR, La Paz, Mexico (zooplankton, fish larvae)Felipe Galván-Magaña, CICIMAR, La Paz, Mexico (elasmobranchs)Steve Haddock, MBARI, USA (mesopelagic gelatinous organisms)Hoyt Peckham, SmartFish, La Paz, BCS, Mexico (artisanal fishing practices)Bruce Robison, MBARI , USA (mesopelagic communities)Cesar Salinas, CIBNOR, La Paz, Mexico (squid, environmental ecology)Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki, CICESE, Ensenada, BC, Mexico (elasmobranchs, squid)

GCIRC: The facility will consist of an insulated 2 story block-building adjacent to the main ITESME teaching buildings (Figure 1). Air temperature will be maintained at 23-24 ºC. The first floor will serve projects that require flowing seawater or dedicated laboratory space. Our initial design includes round tanks (1.5 m diameter) for holding small squid or fish under different environmental conditions plus a larger tank (3-4 m diameter) for holding larger squid or fish (Figure 2). An assortment of small rectangular tanks for holding planktonic food organisms, small invertebrates, fish, and algae will be included. Two laboratory rooms will permit studies such as behavioral filming, electrophysiology, or biomechanics. A recirculating seawater supply will be maintained at 18-20 ºC, and chillers will cool tanks as necessary. This system is based on a central underground sump and tanks for storage of seawater for recharging. A system to obtain fresh seawater from a well or an intake is being considered. An exterior stairwell leads to a second floor to be used as office, storage, freezer and dry-lab space. Two small bedrooms with a shared bathroom will accommodate visiting researchers.

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FUNDNG NEEDS: SURMAR is currently seeking funding from private individuals and non-government organizations to assist with construction ($250,000 needed) and projects implementation. Private donations (USA tax-exempt) can be made through the Ocean Foundation for deposit into SURMAR’s project account:

http://oceanfdn.org/projects/host-project/surmar-asimar

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Figure 1. ITESME and Gulf of California International Research Center site.

A. Entrance to the main ITESME teaching and administration building. (http://desdepalaciodemadera.blogspot.com/2010/04/prepara-itesme-actividades-por-el.html)

B. Rear view of main teaching building and a newer teaching-laboratory building. The GCIRC site is indicated by the asterisk. (Photo: Dave Murline, R/V New Horizon)

C. Initial construction of the GCIRC looking northwest toward La Reforma in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve.(Photo: Arturo Peralta)

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Figure. 2. Gulf of California International Research Center plans. A. Sketch of exterior (front) of GCIRC showing access doors and second floor.B. Layout of first floor aquarium facility and laboratories. Dimensions are in meters.

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