The Pronatura Noroeste A.C. organization, alongside the "San Felipe Pescados y Mariscos" fishermen group will restart the food-pairing season with fishing produce captured in a sustainable manner, and so, creating awareness with regards to the current problem of the Vaquita porpoise, a small dolphin-like mammal that is threatened due to unmeasured and illegal fishing which is severe threat to the species.

Under the motto "Salvanado a la Vaquita Marina" (Saving the Vaquita Porpoise), on this second edition renown ecological chefs, restaurants, wineries and breweries will collaborate in this project in order to take on 6 pairings in the cities of Tijuana, Ensenada and Mexicali starting on February 22 and ending on the month of April.

The vaquita porpoise is the smallest and most vulnerable cetacean worldwide. It lives in the Sea of Cortez and it's categorized as the most endangered marine mammal. According to a recent survey there are only 97 vaquitas left. This is mainly due to the use of gill nets for shrimp and fish where the vaquita gets caught in and dies by asphyxia.

The main purpose of the project is to support fishermen who have decided to adopt new fishing technologies and strengthen the process of technological transference.

The fishermen group which call themselves "Los Changueros" have been working these past few years alongside Pronatura Noroeste and WWF-Mexico to adopt an environmentally sustainable net, as part of an alternative fishing that will avoid the capture of the vaquita community in San Felipe. Local fishing produce of gourmet quality, which are commercialized under the collective brand "San Felipe Pescados y Mariscos", are captured in a responsible manner under a guarantee seal labeled "vaquita friendly".

On his behalf, Coordinator of the California High Gulf Project, Ramsés Rodríguez, pointed out that the project is about promoting the intake of "vaquita friendly" produce with chefs and restaurants of haute cuisine, having as purpose the creation of a congruent market that will try to save the vaquita porpoise from extinction.

Finally, the Pronatura Noroeste organization invites the community to join this effort by attending events. The first three scheduled dates are:

Tijuana:

February 22 at La Justina Gastro Bar with Chef Iker Castillo and invited chefs Rodolfo Luviano and Julio Cesar.[/p]

Ensenada:

February 28 at Cerveceria Wendlant with the participation of chefs, Diego Hernández Baquedano (Corazón de Tierra), Krista Velázquez (Wendlandt), Ismene Venegas (El Pinar de 3 Mujeres), Humberto Avilés (TrasLomita) and Oliver Rodríguez (Kozina Lokal)

Mexicali

: March 12 at Piazza Restaurante.

For more information and a event RSVP, please call Glenda Galarza at (646) 127 54 61 or send her an email at galarza.ac@gmail.com

With information from LC. Glenda Galarza y Pronatura

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