Environmental activists denounced that the lack of surveillance by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) caused the death of a humpback whale in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, after it became entangled in a seine net, which is prohibited in sighting areas due to its negative impact on marine fauna.
This was reported on social media by Lucía Hernández, a scientific communicator, who reported that on the night of January 8, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) found the 9-meter, 15-ton animal, dead and stranded on the coast of Mazatlán.
“(…) A dead whale was found entangled in a seine net in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. Although these nets are prohibited in sighting areas due to their negative impact on marine fauna, their use remains common due to the lack of adequate surveillance.
“A seine net is a mesh that can measure up to 100 meters long and about 3 to 5 meters high, it works like a wall that blocks the passage and exit of any animal. It is considered a non-selective technique, since it can trap unwanted or protected species, such as sea turtles or marine mammals. This generates a negative impact on the ecosystem,” explained the environmental expert about the death of the humpback whale.
The scientist explained that “in Mexico, during the reproductive and sighting season of humpback whales, there are specific regulations that restrict certain fishing activities that put these animals at risk,” a fact for which Semarnat and Conapesca “have the responsibility of carrying out constant inspections in whale sighting areas to ensure that restricted fishing activities are not being carried out, such as seine nets.”
Thus, she denounced that the agencies have not complied with adequate and rigorous monitoring, a fact that caused the whale to die.
“The lack of joint work to supervise fishing activity and ensure compliance with restrictions on the use of nets reveals an institutional disconnection that compromises conservation efforts. Negligence on the part of both agencies not only endangers whales, but also puts all marine biodiversity at risk,” he said.
For its part, the Profepa Environmental Protection Representation Office in Sinaloa and municipal authorities reported that the humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae was buried after being found stranded on the beach and ruled out that its death was a consequence of entanglement.
“On the night of January 8, Profepa coordinated with elements of municipal Civil Protection, Aquatic Squadron, Beach Operator and the Municipal Council Secretariat, among others, to bury a whale approximately 8 meters long and weighing 15 tons that was found on a beach in the port of Mazatlán.
“The mammal was found entangled in a seine net, probably used to catch sawfish. However, it was not possible to determine that the cause of death was this net, since there are no indentations in the fins, although its skin was damaged by the friction of the net,” Profepa explained in a statement.
It said that, after looking for possible causes of death, it proceeded to bury it to avoid damage to public health.
Source: eluniversal
