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Protecting sea birds

May 19, 2015

The Mexican island Isla Isabel is famous for its rich bird populations. But the feathered creatures will only stay if the surrounding ocean continues to provide enough food. What's needed is a marine protected area.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FRoB
A gannet flying
Image: picture alliance/Arco Images/R. Wittek

Mexico's Galapagos

Mexico's Isla Isabel is one of the most densely populated islands in the world - with birds, that is. Tens of thousands of gannets, boobies and frigatebirds raise their offspring here. The island lies off the Gulf of California, parts of which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Isla Isabel itself has been under protection for some time. Mexico's national park authority CONANP now has big plans to protect the area around the island, so that life on the island will continue as usual. The birds will only stay if there's enough fish in the sea - so the authorities want to agree on a plan with local fishermen that lets everyone profit.

A film by Axel Warnstedt und Julia Henrichmann