Pioneering Conservation: Los Cabos to host the first marine farm with "Shell Nurse" artificial reefs

An ambitious project for marine conservation and prosperity is about to materialize in Baja California Sur. The Coppel Foundation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Secretariat of Urban Planning and Infrastructure, Mobility, Environment, and Natural Resources (SEPUIMM) have signed a historic agreement. This strategic alliance will bring to life the first marine farm created with "shell nurse" reefs, marking a milestone as the first time this Japanese technique has been applied outside its home country.

The announcement follows the successful presentation of results from a pilot project during the recent Mar de Cortés Forum. This forum, which brings together business leaders, authorities, and civil leaders from Mexico's northwest region, was the perfect stage to demonstrate the viability of this restoration technology. The original artificial reef was installed in the Bay of La Paz, near San Juan de la Costa, and its results have exceeded all expectations.

SEPUIMM reported on the astonishing evolution of this first reef. After its installation in 2022, it was observed that in a period of just three months, fish began to colonize the new structure. This was just the beginning of a rapid recovery of marine life in the area, laying the groundwork for a much more ambitious expansion of the project.

The success became even more evident six months after installation, when monitoring revealed that the fish population in the artificial reef area had doubled. By 2024, the estimates are even more impressive: the reef is calculated to host up to 10 kilograms of fish biomass per cubic meter of the structure, demonstrating extraordinary efficiency.

The Japanese "shell nurse" technique stands out for its ingenious design and community-focused approach. The structures are designed with a simplicity that allows local fishermen themselves to actively participate in their installation. This approach not only facilitates logistics but also integrates fishing communities into the conservation dynamic, fostering the sustainability of their own extractive activities.

The pilot reef in La Paz has proven to be a vital refuge for a great diversity of marine species. Currently, the presence of 38 different species inhabiting these structures has been documented. Of this total, 14 species are of high commercial importance for the region, including highly valued fish such as the burrito grunt, cochito, jack, sea bass, snapper, parrotfish, and pez perico.

Due to these highly positive and conclusive results obtained in just two years, the representatives of the involved organizations decided to expand the project. The signing of the new agreement transforms the pilot into a large-scale initiative: the creation of the first formal marine farm under this concept, consolidating Los Cabos as a center of innovation in sustainable aquaculture.

Rocío Abud, director of the Coppel Foundation, explained the future vision for this collaboration. "The idea is that this year, the first marine ranch with shell nurses will be installed and expanded," she detailed. Abud emphasized that this is a long-term project, with the goal of creating more "areas of marine prosperity" under a concept of active territorial protection.

The original project, which began in 2022, consisted of the installation of 200 of these "boxes" or reef structures. With the new agreement, the short-term objective is much more ambitious. The aim is to expand the installation to 1,000 boxes, thus laying the foundation for this marine ranch that promises to revolutionize fishing and conservation.

This project is a perfect example of how social investment, international cooperation, and political will can align. By creating new habitats, the natural reproduction of key species is boosted, directly benefiting marine ecosystems. This development offers a model of sustainable tourism and responsible investment for the future of Baja California Sur.