The gray whale maintains its arrival to the Mexican coasts as part of its reproductive and breeding cycle. According to the fifth census of the 2024-2025 sighting season, carried out by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) (Conanp), 318 cetaceans have been registered to date in the Ojo de Liebre Lagoonof which 35 are calves and 248 are single whales.
In the San Ignacio LagoonIn the case of the whales, 5 whales with calves and 22 single whales were counted, for a total of 32 individuals.
These numbers contrast with those recorded in the previous season (2023-2024), when 758 whales were documented in Laguna Ojo de Liebre and 125 in Laguna San Ignacio. In spite of the decrease in numbers, the Conanp indicated that it continues its efforts to guarantee the protection and conservation of this species in its natural habitat.
The sustainable tourism plays a key role in the gray whale conservation. Whale-watching is carried out under the Official Mexican Standard NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010which establishes specific guidelines to protect cetaceans and their ecosystems. This activity not only promotes environmental preservation, but also economically benefits more than 2,650 people in the local communities.
For the current season, the Conanp reported that it has granted 58 authorizations to tourism service providersThe company's members include fishing cooperatives, ejidatarios and local businessmen in the two whale sanctuaries.
The El Vizcaino Biosphere Reservewhich covers more than two and a half million hectares, is the epicenter of these activities, with protection and surveillance measures coordinated with the Federal Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection (Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente) and community oversight committees.
The El Vizcaino Whale Sanctuarywhich includes Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio and its surroundings, is a key point for the conservation of this emblematic species. Thanks to its close-to-shore swimming habits, the gray whale is one of the most accessible for sightings, allowing thousands of visitors to enjoy this unique experience every year.
Source: Conanp
