Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula stretches along the Pacific Ocean on its west coast, where the cold and productive Current of California make this coast rich in nutrients all year long. On the east side of the Penninsula, the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, runs along 1,120 km (700 miles) between Baja California and mainland Mexico. With more than 900 islands, the Gulf of California is notable as a region of special biological significance due to its great habitat diversity. Because of that, the Gulf of California was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 with more than 800 species of fish, 2000 species of invertebrates, 48 species of sharks, and 5 mobula species in addition to marine mammals like sea lions, whales, and dolphins.
However, the Gulf of California is subjected to 70% of Mexican fisheries with less than 1% of its surface being protected as «no-take» areas.