The fishing ban in San Felipe has been imposed due to pressure from international organizations, and celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio, who think they are defending the vaquita and the totoaba, both endemic species of the Colorado Delta. The Colorado River Delta, located in the Mexican state of Baja California, is the region where the Colorado River flows into the Gulf of California. The delta is part of a larger geologic region called the “Salton Trough”. However, according to information published by The Baja Post news website, most people seem to ignore that the unbalance of salty and fresh waters in the Colorado Delta is the real cause of the vaquita marina population dwindling. And this unbalance has been caused by the management and handling of the Colorado River waters controlled by the government of the United States of America.
People of San Felipe react to the attack against fishermen by the Mexican Navy “The people went out of control and burned part of the buildings and boats of the Federal Environmental Attorney (PROFEPA)”, said San Felipe fishermen leader Lorenzo García in a phone interview with The Baja Post on Thursday March 28. “I lead an organization of legit fishermen, I don´t really know exactly what happened this morning, all we know is that a member of our community was injured by the Mexican Navy. The man is alive as far as we know, but we do not have exact information on the identity of this victim though”. He also said that the people of San Felipe are very angry. Mr. García has tried to calm them down but it´s almost impossible. “We had never suffered such a situation. And the people attacking PROFEPA facilities are not only fishermen but other angry residents of San Felipe, Baja California”, he added.