• baby sperm whale after disentanglement

  • 2023 Sea Lion Rescue Team Puerto Peñasco

Worlds Aquarium

World's-Aquarium_300

 

The Sea of Cortez is a unique marine environment with over 900 species of fish and at least 43 species of marine mammals that make up what Jacques Cousteau once referred to as ‘the world’s aquarium’. It is one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water, but overfishing and careless commercial and sport fishing activity through the years is causing big problems. Sea lions and other mammals are dying as a direct result of human behavior, often after years of slowly and mercilessly being strangled to death by discarded monofilament fishing line. The way in which shrimp is harvested often means thousands of other marine wildlife are caught and killed, including dorado (mahi mahi), sardines, multiple species of dolphins, and other marine mammals unique to this area. 

Based in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, The World’s Aquarium is a 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated in Washington, and has been a part of the community of San Carlos Mexico for over 25 years. It exists to contribute to the long-term health and vitality of marine life in the Sea of Cortez by working with local partners to disentangle and rescue sea lions and other marine mammals caught in discarded fishing lines, and to prevent the ocean pollution impacting them through educational outreach to the local fishing community. 

The World’s Aquarium envisions a future where diverse and thriving marine wildlife populations in the Sea of Cortez are sustained by a healthy ocean ecosystem free of human refuse. We invite you to support our work and help us make this vision a reality for future generations.