In a bold move aimed at protecting the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico, environmental organization Oceana proposed the establishment of a Safeguard Zone that would prohibit hydrocarbon exploration and extraction in deep waters. This initiative, unveiled in a report titled El Golfo de México Más Allá del Petróleo: Propuestas para su Protección, emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the rich marine life in an area home to over 15,000 species, including important fish species and endangered turtles.
The proposed zone would cover an impressive 346,084 square kilometers, equivalent to 46% of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean. According to Mariana Reyna, Oceana's Science Coordinator, the Gulf contains a wealth of biodiversity that is crucial to both ecological health and local economies. “The Safeguard Zone would protect marine species of great biological importance such as whales, sea turtles, and sharks, as well as many commercially important species ranging from snapper, grouper, crabs to tunas and lobsters,” Reyna outlined.
A pressing issue in the region is the decline in fish populations caused by extensive oil extraction activities. Oceana reports that since 2010, there has been a 25% reduction in the number of fishing vessels operating in the Gulf, a stark statistic that highlights the negative impact of the oil industry on local fisheries.
Renata Terrazas, executive director of Oceana Mexico, emphasized that the exhaustion of oil resources is forcing extraction to occur at greater depths, which significantly increases the risk of spills—an alarming prospect for an ecosystem already under threat. “The President Claudia Sheinbaum has a historic opportunity to protect the Gulf of Mexico with the declaration of this Safeguard Zone that halts the intentions of foreign companies to exploit deep-water oil, putting our natural, social, and cultural heritage at severe risk,” Terrazas stated during a press conference.
The urgency of this initiative was further underscored by Nancy Gocher, Oceana’s Policy Coordinator, who warned that the frequency of oil spills could significantly rise if proactive measures are not taken. “It is not a question of whether there will be another spill, but when it will happen,” Gocher asserted, referencing the catastrophic impacts of past disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, which resulted in an estimated 800 million liters of crude oil spilling into the Gulf and causing ecological damage that persists to this day.
This proposal comes at a time when the energy landscape in Mexico is fraught with concerns, particularly following the 2013 Energy Reform which allowed greater foreign investment in oil exploration. Critics argue that this reform has primarily benefited corporations at the expense of the environment and local communities. “The risks are ours; the profits are theirs,” Gocher lamented.
Oceana’s Safeguard Zone aims not only to prevent ecological disaster but also to maintain livelihoods for those dependent on the fisheries. The zone could help protect 15 million people who rely on the Gulf’s resources, as it seeks to maintain the ecosystems that provide both food and economic sustenance. “We propose: fishing yes, oil no,” Terrazas declared, drawing attention to the need for sustainable practices that respect both nature and community needs.
Scientific and economic data underpin the proposal, highlighting the necessity for a shift in strategy. For instance, 25% of the world's biodiversity linked to coral reefs could be safeguarded by this initiative, as well as the crucial mangroves that act as natural barriers against hurricanes, which are projected to intensify due to climate change, Terrazas explained.
Despite the mounting pressure, government revenues derived from oil have significantly waned, contributing between 11% and 20% to the federal budget since 2017, while at the same time, crude oil reserves have been in decline since the collapse of the Cantarell field in 2004.
As environmental, economic, and social concerns intertwine, Oceana insists that true ecological peace will only be achieved with legal protection and justice for the Gulf’s marine ecosystems. “We are not owners of the ocean, but if we lose it, we lose ourselves,” Gocher concluded, echoing the sentiment that the Gulf is more than just a source of oil—it is a pivotal part of both the ecological and cultural heritage of Mexico.
The effectiveness of the proposed Safeguard Zone largely hinges on the political will of the current administration. The proposed legislation could set a historic precedent, marking a critical step toward a renewable and sustainable future for Mexico. Observers are watching closely as President Sheinbaum considers this essential step in the right direction for both the environment and the millions of people who call the Gulf region home.
