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  • Scorecard
  • Site Overview
  • Fact Sheet

Site Summary Overview

La Reserva de la Biosfera Isla San Pedro Mártir destaca por su extremo aislamiento, su riqueza biológica, sus complejos procesos ecológicos y su exuberante belleza escénica. La isla es de gran importancia por sus colonias de anidación de aves marinas, incluyendo las más grandes del mundo de pájaros bobos cafés y de patas azules y una de las más grandes de México de pelícano pardo, además de especies en peligro de extinción y especies endémicas.

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Scorecard

Score Legend Trend Legend
Superior
Rapidly Improving
Good
Improving
Fair
Stable
Poor
Diminishing
Critical
Rapidly Diminishing
Undetermined
Undetermined

Water

  • Stressors

    Question

    To what extents are specific or multiple stressors, including changing watershed, oceanographic, and atmospheric conditions, affecting water quality, quantity, distribution and timing and how are the stressors changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected conditions may preclude full development of living resource assemblages and habitats, but are not likely to cause substantial or persistent declines.

    Basis of Judgement

    There are no activities on the island that could affect water quality. The tankers that pass through the area near the Reserve represent the only potential risk. Likely sources of contamination are the Libertad thermo-electrical plant, Kino aquatic farms, fish meal processing plants and water discharges from the continent. The potential impact from these sources has not been assessed, and there is no evidence of negative effects. The El Niño phenomenon in the Gulf of California has had an effect on the decline in primary productivity.
  • 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 living resources or habitat quality.

    Basis of Judgement

    There are no municipal discharges or contamination from ships or any other source that contributes nutrients. There is no record of toxic algae blooms in the Reserve. In the San Pedro Mártir Island region there are rising currents or upwellings throughout the entire year, which bring an abundance of nutrients to the ocean surface, and are the basis for a complex food chain. The potential presence of pollutants from the coastal area carried into the area by dominant currents has not been detected, and living organisms in the area do not seem to demonstrate any alterations that could have been generated by pollutants from the coastal area or from electricity production at Port Libertad, the shrimp farms in the Kino coastal plains area or the processing of fish products in Guaymas.
  • Human Health

    Question

    To what extent do water conditions pose risks to human health and how are they changing?

    Why This Score?

    Conditions do not appear to have the potential to negatively affect human health.

    Basis of Judgement

    Due to the good quality of the water, negative effects on human health have not been registered.
  • Human Activities

    Question

    To what extent do human activities influence water quality and inputs and how are they changing?

    Why This Score?

    Few or no activities occur that are likely to negatively affect water quality and quantity.

    Basis of Judgement

    The quality of the water is good. The main risks come from the increase in vessel traffic, spills from tankers, discharges of sewage waters and other wastes from ships, evisceration of fish caught in the area, oils from vessel motors and the increase in the number of visitors to the island and its waters.

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 loss or alteration has caused or is likely to cause severe declines in some but not all living resources or water quality

    Basis of Judgement

    The deep-sea area has been only minimally impacted. It is characterized by upwellings and high primary productivity, reflected in the abundance of sizes and species of small and large deep-sea fish, squid and mid-water fish. Despite some problems in managing certain fishing resources, the habitat has not been affected. The marine area near the island’s coast has been highly impacted by human activities. Pressure on the ecosystem is the result of an over-exploitation of living resources: seaweed has suffered a serious decline as a result of the extraction of fish that are predators of sea urchins, provoking an increase in the population of the latter. The reef area has also been impacted.
  • Contaminants

    Question

    To what extent do contaminants in habitats affect living resources or water quality, and how are they changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected contaminants may preclude full development of living resource assemblages, but are not likely to cause substantial or persistent degradation

    Basis of Judgement

    There are no direct sources of contamination within a radius of 200 kilometers around the Reserve. Nevertheless, the possibility of fuel oil spills from vessels transporting fuel oil to the Port Libertad thermo-electric plant (even though they do not travel through the AMP polygon) should not be discarded. The negative effects that could be provoked by discharges from sardine processing plants or releases from the thermo-electric plants in Guaymas and Libertad have not been assessed or quantified. These are the only two potential sources of heavy metals.
  • 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 caused or are likely to cause severe impacts, and cases to date suggest a pervasive problem.

    Basis of Judgement

    Activities in the deep-sea area are minimal and associated with fishing and with vessels passing through. Activity is more intense in the area near the island’s coast and provokes more deterioration comparatively. Fishing activities have brought an impact resulting from the over-exploitation of fish and other benthic fauna. This has provoked changes in the ecosystem that can be attributed to an increase in fishing. It is necessary to establish fishing management plans that will work toward re-establishing lost fish and algae populations and seek out schemes for using resources but maintaining equilibrium among all the elements of communities and the ecosystem. The Conservation and Management Program of the San Pedro Mártir Island Biosphere Reserve could work toward the implementation of management strategies for recuperating the natural wealth lost in the marine area near the island’s coasts.

Living Resources

  • Biodiversity

    Question

    What is the status of biodiversity and how is it changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected biodiversity change has caused or is likely to cause severe declines in some but not all ecosystem components and reduce ecosystem integrity.

    Basis of Judgement

    Generally speaking, diversity has diminished with the loss of predator species. The populations of groups such as sharks, manta rays and common dolphins have been reduced, while the giant squid population has experienced over-growth. Nevertheless, some shark and manta ray species that were not being sighted any more are once again being observed. Natural resources in the marine area near the island’s coasts have been the object of over-exploitation and other impacts, leading to a loss of species and a decrease in biological diversity.
  • Extracted Species

    Question

    What is the status of extracted species and how is it changing?

    Why This Score?

    Key extracted species have declined severely and there is evidence of impacts on community development and function; recovery is at risk.

    Basis of Judgement

    Some problems associated with managing fishing resources have been experienced. The impact from fishing can be observed in the species of fish especially vital to commercial fishing. The presence, sizes and abundance of certain species is less now than in the past. Examples are the gulf grouper, goliath grouper, hake, baqueta, snapper, mackerel and golden fish. The species subject to fishing and found in the Reserve are species that can be found all along the Gulf of California. Sea turtles are illegally extracted, and it has not been possible to determine the modus operandi of those engaging in this activity. This situation is being investigated by the authorities responsible for enforcing the law. An ongoing inspection and surveillance program has been established, with participation coordinated by Profepa, Conapesca and the Mexican Navy. Resources have been subjected to intensive fishing, leading to over-exploitation.
  • Alien Species

    Question

    What is the status of alien species and how is it changing?

    Why This Score?

    Alien species are not suspected or do not appear to impair full community development and function.

    Basis of Judgement

    There is no record of alien species in the deep-sea area; however, the risk is there due to the vessels passing through and the promotion of marine aquaculture in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Alien species have not been found in the area near the coastline either. The increase in the number of visitors and the use of helicopters represent a threat for the transportation of alien species to the island.
  • Keystone & Indicator Species

    Question

    What is the status and condition of keystone and indicator species and how is it changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected keystone and/or indicator species have severely declined and there is evidence of impacts on community development and function; recovery is at risk.

    Basis of Judgement

    Two shark indicator species, the bull shark and silky shark, are abundant in the deep-sea area. The whale and dolphin populations are in good condition, and so is the sardine population. A sperm whale population of as many as 100 specimens has been identified. These whales take advantage of the abundance of giant squid in the Reserve’s deep waters. In the area near the coast, algae and seaweed are considered to be key species, while indicator species include the spotted grouper, snapper, mackerel, grouper, lobster, golden fish and sea cucumber. Commercial species have been subjected to intensive fishing, which has led to a decline in the fish species that controlled the sea urchin populations, and this has provoked a decline in the seaweed populations.
  • Focal Species

    Question

    What is the status and condition of focal species and how is it changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected focal species have declined severely; populations are limited and recovery is at risk

    Basis of Judgement

    The seals have recuperated their population levels from before they were hunted, and represent the third largest colony in the Gulf of California. Turtles are illegally captured for human consumption, and the manta population is in decline. The illegal capturing of sea turtles continues to be a problem that threatens the East Pacific green turtle, and it has not been possible to eradicate this activity. There are groups that have established networks from Guaymas and Kino around the illegal use of this resource, which is commercialized clandestinely in some restaurants and cafés in Hermosillo, Guaymas and Empalme. In the coastal area the Brandt’s cormorant and crab populations have diminished. The populations that served as the food for these species would have to be re-established in order for them to recover. Management measures for their recuperation should be adopted in fishing management plans and in the Conservation and Management Program for Protected Natural Areas. Currently, there is adequate coordination between environmental and fishing authorities, plus there is close collaboration with the Sonora state government which, together with the interest expressed by the fishing communities, will contribute toward this taking place. En la zona costera, han disminuido las poblaciones del cormorán de Brandt y el cangrejo Garcis garcis. Se tendrían que restablecer las poblaciones que les servían de alimento a estas especies para que se puedan recuperarse. Medidas de manejo para su recuperación, deberán ser adoptadas en los planes de manejo pesquero y en el Programa de Conservación y Manejo del Área Natural Protegida. Actualmente se presenta una adecuada coordinación entre autoridades ambientales y las pesqueras y una colaboración estrecha con el Gobierno del Estado de Sonora que aunado al interés de las comunidades pesqueras, favorecerá que así ocurra.
  • Species of Common Concern

    Question

    What is the status and condition of species of common conservation concern?

    Why This Score?

    The status or condition of selected species has declined substantially from natural historic levels.

    Basis of Judgement

    The reproduction of species of common interest such as the blue, hunchback and killer whales does not depend on Reserve ecosystems. These species are frequently sighted in the Reserve. East Pacific green turtles are also observed in the island waters, although they are less common that the other five species inhabiting the Gulf of California.
  • Human Activities

    Question

    To what extent do human activities influence living resource quality and how are they changing?

    Why This Score?

    Selected activities have resulted in measurable living resource impacts, but evidence suggests effects are localized, not widespread.

    Basis of Judgement

    The effects provoked by human activities on the island during the 19th century involving guano extraction and exploitation of seals continue to have an impact to this day, since the decline in some of these species can still be observed. Currently, human activities consist of primarily commercial and sports fishing in areas around the Reserve. In particular, commercial fishing involves about 80 fishermen who use the island. Thirty species are caught between commercial and sports fishing, and different types of fishing methods are used: traps, manual line and hook, night diving and harpoon. In recent years the composition and number of species caught has changed and diminished significantly due to overfishing. Tourist and research activities have increased.

Scorecards 1 to 10 were developed in 2007-2008. Scorecards 11 and 12 were developed in 2010.

Overview

La Reserva de la Biosfera Isla San Pedro Mártir destaca por su extremo aislamiento, su riqueza biológica, sus complejos procesos ecológicos y su exuberante belleza escénica. En las aguas adyacentes a la isla es posible encontrar bancos de coral negro, mantos de rodolitos, arrecifes rocosos y mantos de sargazo, ambientes importantes para las diferentes etapas de crecimiento de especies clave y comerciales de peces e invertebrados. La isla es de gran importancia por sus colonias de anidación de aves marinas, incluyendo las más grandes del mundo de pájaros bobos cafés y de patas azules y una de las más grandes de México de pelícano pardo, además de especies en peligro de extinción y especies endémicas. Los mamíferos marinos es otro grupo que hace un uso importante del hábitat que provee la isla registrándose la presencia de casi el 50% de las especies distribuidas en todo el golfo. En la isla se encuentra la tercera colonia más grande de lobo marino del Golfo de California.
El aislamiento de este macizo rocoso le ha permitido tener uno de los mejores niveles de conservación en cuanto a su flora y fauna, comparándolo con islas cercanas y de similar tamaño. El estado de conservación de San Pedro Mártir contrasta con una larga historia de intenso uso de sus recursos naturales, como la colecta del guano producido por las aves marinas. La intensidad de las actividades pesqueras realizadas en las últimas décadas en la región, indudablemente ha ocasionado cambios en algunos ecosistemas y especies de flora y fauna.

Fact Sheet

State(s) or Province(s): 
Sonora
Category: 
Biosphere Reserve
Date Established: 
2002
Area (ha): 
30165
Management Authority: 

CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas)

Human Settlement: 
None
Visitors’ facilities: 

Presently there are only temporary fishing camps on the island. Ecotourism is still a minor activity.

Infrastructure: 

None

Population: 

None

Corresponding Marine Ecoregion: 
Gulf of California
Corresponding Priority Conservation Area: 
Grandes Islas del Golfo de California/Bahía de Los Ángeles
Description of the MPA: 

Isla San Pedro Mártir is located in the north-central Gulf of California, 40 km south of the Grandes Islas. This is one of the best preserved islands in the Gulf.

Ecosystem diversity: 

A total of 292 flora and fauna species (marine and terrestrial) have been reported for the island. Leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead, Pacific green and olive ridley turtle swim around the island. The island holds the world’s fourth largest population of blue-footed booby, Mexico’s largest population of brown booby and large colonies of brown pelican and red-billed tropicbird. There is also a very large sea lion colony of 2,500 and aggregations of bottlenose dolphins and fin whales are seen offshore.

Endemisms: 

There are two endemic lizards, the sideblotched lizard and the whiptail. The fish-eating bat, a Gulf endemic species, is also found in the island.

Focal species: 

California sea lion, black sea turtle and Brandt’s cormoran.

Species of Common Conservation Concern: 

Blue whale, humpback whale, killer whale and green sea turtle.

Fishermen visit the island occasionally. Ecotourism is very low and there are two companies that offer diving trips to the island.

Corresponding Marine Ecoregion

18. Gulf of California

Corresponding PCA

26. Grandes Islas del Golfo de California/Bahía de Los Ángeles