The Cabo Pulmo National Park is one of the most important areas in the Gulf of California due to its numerous marine species, including one of only three living coral reefs remaining in all of North America. The park’s coral reef area is inhabited by 11 of the 14 hermatypic coral species and 226 reef species of fish. Migratory species are abundant in the area, and some of them are listed in categories of species requiring protection or at risk of extinction. Due to the park’s proximity to Cabo San Lucas, the area’s main economic potential lies in recreational activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, wind surfing and sport fishing.
Scorecard
| Score Legend |
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Trend Legend |
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| Superior |
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Rapidly Improving |
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| Good |
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Improving |
 |
| Fair |
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Stable |
 |
| Poor |
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Diminishing |
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| Critical |
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Rapidly Diminishing |
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| Undetermined |
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Undetermined |
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Water
Nutrient Health
Question
To what extents are altered nutrient loads affecting ecosystem health and how are they changing?Why This Score?
Conditions do not appear to have the potential to negatively affect ecosystem health.Basis of Judgement
There is no evidence in the Marine Protected Area of a significant increase in the amount of nutrients or excessive algal blooms, since they are controlled naturally by invertebrates and fish. There is no record or memory of a local red tide or any similar phenomenon in the area, and no excess of algal biomass was reported after the coral mortality caused by El Niño effects. In other words, the system is able to regulate these types of increases. Nevertheless, the system could be affected by the increased amount of nutrients originating on the continent. Effects will be negative in the long term, due to the garbage and human wastes generated by tourism development projects.
It is necessary to monitor and document the increase in nutrients caused by anthropogenic activities.
Human Health
Question
To what extent do water conditions pose risks to human health and how are they changing?Why This Score?
Information is insufficient or the question is not applicable.Basis of Judgement
Evidence for determining the status of water in relation to human health is not available. The only partial evidence is the high concentration of coliform bacteria in the waters near the town of Cabo Pulmo. This does not translate into negative effects, since no fishing or aquaculture is reported in the area. Also important to note is a rapid rate of exchange in the waters.
It is necessary to conduct specific studies on organochlorines, toxic phytoplankton, nitrogenated compounds, water currents and exchange, heavy metals, liquid and solid wastes, coliform bacteria, brines and other results from anthropogenic activities causing negative effects on human health.
Human Activities
Question
To what extent do human activities influence water quality and inputs and how are they changing?Why This Score?
Some potentially harmful activities exist, but they do not appear to have had a negative effect on water quality and inputs.Basis of Judgement
Human activities conducted along the entire coastline of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) have impacts upon water quality. These activities involve tourism services, dredging, and hotel construction. However, there is little scientific measurement providing evidence of the potential effects from these activities. During El Niño years, the sea level rises and some sewage water reservoirs containing fecal waste are flooded, leading to concentrations of coliform bacteria in the coastal areas near the town of Cabo Pulmo. Accelerated tourism development in nearby areas is causing a trend toward rapid deterioration of water conditions. Making this situation even worse are the local prevailing water currents that easily transport and spread the contaminants.Question
Why This Score?
Basis of Judgement
Habitat
Extent and Distribution
Question
To what extent does habitat alteration, including the extent and distribution of major habitat types, affect ecosystem health, and how is it changing?Why This Score?
Selected habitat alteration may inhibit the development of assemblages, and may cause measurable but not severe declines in living resources or water quality. Basis of Judgement
There are modifications in the composition and quality of the coral reef and its surroundings. Large pearl oyster populations are no longer found, due to previous uncontrolled commercial exploitation. El Niño currents, the ocean’s acidification, and cyclones have led to an infestation of opportunist species such as sea worms, and consequently the reef’s conditions are far from pristine. The increase in CO2 is causing coral reef bleaching and a reduction in the area covered by coral reefs. Construction along the coastline and four-wheel-drive vehicle traffic damage vegetation and nesting areas along the water’s edge, and also disrupt the sand substrate. The available documented scientific evidence on trends is not sufficient to establish a rate of change; however, there is serious concern about it.
It is necessary to study the loss of sediments in the park’s beach areas caused by anthropogenic activities (seawalls, sealing off ravines, dredging and marinas) and the velocity with which they are occurring.
Contaminants
Question
To what extent do contaminants in habitats affect living resources or water quality, and how are they changing?Why This Score?
Information is insufficient or the question is not applicable.Basis of Judgement
There is no apparent contamination within the MPA polygon, however, the available evidence and data for documenting the status of local habitats is insufficient. There are minimal amounts of contaminants due to vessels, motors and chemicals from runoff. However, there are no industrial, agricultural or extractive activities in nearby areas, so potential problems related to these activities are not observed.
It is recommended that studies be conducted on the presence of heavy metals in the coral reef skeleton (with a long timeline); on pesticides and heavy metals in filtrating organisms and higher predators; and on contaminants in sediments.
Human Activities
Question
To what extent do human activities influence habitat extent and quality, and how are they changing?Why This Score?
Selected activities have resulted in measurable habitat impacts, but evidence suggests the effects are localized, not widespread.Basis of Judgement
There is minimal presence of malacofauna in the marine area, resulting from the suspended exploitation of commercial species. Subaquatic activities and the inexperience of scuba divers visiting the area cause focalized deterioration in the local habitat, as do the remains of fishing lines, nets and anchors that continue to be detected in the park, damaging the coral reef.
Anthropogenic effects range from disturbances of the nesting areas of sea turtles and birds on the beach, to the increases in atmospheric CO2, which is gradually raising the temperature of ocean waters and acidifying them, resulting in a weakening of the physical structure of the coral reef, damaging the habitat’s quality and extension.
A zonification process is necessary, together with monitoring the recreational use of park areas and resources and its intensity; it is also necessary to determine the park’s carrying capacity.
Scorecards 1 to 10 were developed in 2007-2008. Scorecards 11 and 12 were developed in 2010.
Overview
The Cabo Pulmo National Park (Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo—PNCP) is one of the most important areas in the Gulf of California due to its numerous marine species. Located within the park’s territory is the northernmost living coral reef in the Americas, one of only three living coral reefs remaining in all of North America. It is the only hard coral reef in the Baja California peninsula, and its age is estimated at approximately 25,000 years. The park has the largest coral reef area in the Gulf of California, inhabited by 11 of the 14 hermatypic coral species reported in the Gulf. In terms of its fish community, a total of 226 reef species of the 875 species listed for the entire Gulf of California have been observed in the park. Mollusk species are extensively represented in the park’s reef area; in particular, cone shells, snail shells and pearl oysters are commercially important. Of the fish species reported in the reef area, 15 percent are in the category of visiting species, since they do not strictly depend on this area, but rather visit for feeding purposes. Migratory species are abundant in the area, and some of them are listed in categories of species requiring protection or at risk of extinction. Included in the last category are sea turtles, whose nesting area is located very close to a number of constructions that have invaded the federal maritime terrestrial zone (the park’s terrestrial area). The marine birds observed in the park are common to the entire Gulf. A small non-reproductive colony of sea lions is found in the park, together with dolphins and humpback, fin and Bryde’s whales.
Few humans inhabit the park, since it is located far from other population centers on the peninsula. However, there is dynamic nautical traffic along maritime transportation routes, due to the park’s proximity to Cabo San Lucas. The latter is a center of international tourism bringing numerous visitors to the area and attracting different types of vessels of shallow, moderate and deep draft. In fact, a large number of small and medium-size vessels will be found docked in La Ribera and Buena Vista (in the park’s northern section) during the fall and winter seasons.
Some marine plant specimens in the coral reef are extracted for scientific purposes, and while there are some species with commercial value, they are not exploited. The area’s main economic potential lies in recreational activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, wind surfing and sport fishing.
Fact Sheet
State(s) or Province(s):
Baja California Sur
Management Authority:
Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF)
