a gray whale against bright green water with human hands in water

Baja California’s Recipe for Saving Fishing Communities

As fish populations crash elsewhere, towns limit catches to stabilize harvests, boost tourism, and preserve a way of life.

A tourist on a boat in Laguna San Ignacio reaches into the water in the hope of petting one of many gray whales that frequent the bay to mate and care for their young. Once feared by fishermen, the unusually friendly animals are now a crucial part of the economy.
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