Home / Environment / Whale Haven Saved From Industrial Giant
Whale Haven Saved From Industrial Giant
8 Oct
Summary
- A massive saltworks project threatened a vital gray whale breeding ground.
- Environmentalists and celebrities successfully campaigned against the plan.
- The project was officially canceled in March 2000, preserving the habitat.
Laguna San Ignacio, a vital breeding ground for the eastern North Pacific gray whale, faced a significant threat in 1995 with a proposal for a massive saltworks. This important area, part of the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaíno World Heritage site, is where mothers give birth and nurse their young in warm, shallow waters. Scientists had documented the whales' reliance on the lagoon, with mothers frequently returning to its calm environment.
The ambitious saltworks project was spearheaded by ESSA, with significant stakes held by Mitsubishi and the Mexican government. Environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, launched a strong opposition. They appealed to UNESCO and organized boycotts, garnering widespread support that included over a million letters and endorsements from 34 scientists.
In a decisive victory for conservation, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo announced the cancellation of the saltworks project on March 2, 2000. This decision followed a UNESCO mission's findings, which advised Mexico to prioritize the lagoon's World Heritage values. The saltworks were never constructed, and subsequent efforts, like the creation of the Laguna San Ignacio Conservation Alliance in 2005, have ensured its permanent protection.
