The totoaba, known by foreign fishermen as “Macdonaldi” (no, nothing to do with Italian hamburgers) or Mexican corvina, is a fish found exclusively in the Gulf of California making it a species endemic to this region.
Since the 1920s, exploitation of this species has had a severe impact on its population. One of the main factors driving illegal trafficking is its swim bladder, popularly known as the “maw.”
This organ is highly coveted on the black market, especially in Asian countries, where it is attributed with aphrodisiac and medicinal properties, although these lack solid scientific backing. This demand has made the totoaba a frequent target for poaching.
Adding to this pressure are incidental fishing and the degradation of its natural habitat, factors that have brought the totoaba to the brink of extinction. Due to this situation, the totoaba is currently protected by national and international laws and is classified as an endangered species.
The economic impact of the illegal trafficking of this fish is huge, with estimated profits ranging from $100 to $220 billion US per year. This illegal activity is the third most lucrative worldwide.
As part of efforts to conserve the totoaba, Mexican authorities, civil society organizations, and the regenerative aquaculture company “Santomar” havecollaborated on the “Totoabas a la Mar” program. This initiative has released more than 270,000 juveniles into their natural habitat, marking a significant milestone in marine conservation and the recovery of this endangered species, which is considered vital to the regional ecological balance.
The most recent release, corresponding to the tenth generation of Totoaba, took place on Santispac beach, located in the municipality of Mulegé.
On this occasion, 40,000 babies measuring approximately 25 centimeters in length were reintroduced, directly contributing to the recovery of this threatened species.