Baja California Advances Sustainable Coastal Development

Mexico is advancing the restoration of macroalgae forests in Baja California through a federal-state initiative targeting at least three hectares and involving fishing communities, researchers and conservation organizations. The effort addresses ecosystem degradation linked to the proliferation of purple sea urchins while exploring biotechnology-based solutions to create economic value from the species, with implications for small-scale fisheries, marine conservation and sustainable coastal development.

The Ministry of Environment and Natutal Resources (SEMARNAT) and the Government of Baja California have launched an strategy to restore macroalgae forests in the peninsula. The project is part of the San Quintin-Ensenada Justice Plan and the National Environmental Restoration Program 2025-2030, with the goal of addressing the region’s needs from a socio-environmental perspective.

The initiative aims to restore at least three hectares of macroalgae forests, with a total investment of MX$4.1 million (US$234,899) in 2026. It involves federal, state and municipal authorities, fishing communities, the academic sector, and organizations working on the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Five fishing associations, seven working groups, about 70 vessels, and up to 350 people from the small-scale fishing sector are participating in the implementation. These participants will benefit both directly and indirectly. In addition to advancing environmental restoration, the project recognizes and strengthens the experience and participation of communities whose livelihoods depend on these ecosystems.

The activities include delineating priority areas and establishing an ecological baseline; controlled manual removal of purple sea urchins; transplanting adult Macrocystis pyrifera specimens to support forest recovery and the natural dispersal of spores; ecological and community-based monitoring of restored sites; and calculating carbon sequestration. As part of the initial activities, a training workshop was held to establish the project’s work plan, followed by exploratory field trips to define the restoration areas. 

The removal of purple sea urchins has also begun as part of the restoration measures, representing one of the first field actions aimed at recovering macroalgae forests. The work incorporates standardized technical protocols, georeferenced information, and monitoring of ecological indicators.

During the fieldwork, representatives of the fishing groups participating in the project also shared their experiences. Their knowledge of the territory is considered essential to developing actions that respond to local conditions and can be maintained and strengthened over time.

Purple Sea Urchin Management Emerges as Restoration Challenge

Unlike the red sea urchin, one of the most commercially valuable species in Baja California, the purple sea urchin is considered harmful to macroalgae forests because it feeds on their roots. Its populations have grown exponentially due to environmental factors. The species can survive in a dormant state for extended periods, making it an opportunistic organism and a driver of deforestation, while also providing little nutritional value to other organisms.

According to Jorge Olmos, Researcher, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), the problem worsened in 2016 and 2017, when intense heat waves created favorable conditions for the species to proliferate and affected both macroalgae and their natural predators. He explains that there are currently millions of purple sea urchins with no commercial value, which prevents their extraction and contributes to the persistence of ecological damage. “Ninety to 95% of the macroalgae forests have already disappeared. If you look at an area where there used to be a forest, it is now a seafloor covered with purple sea urchins,” Olmos tells Entrelíneas.

As a potential solution, Olmos and his team have proposed a biotechnology-based alternative in which a special diet is used to fatten the sea urchins and give them market value. The diet they developed uses terrestrial plant-based ingredients combined with probiotics from the Bacillus genus, selected for their ability to digest complex nutrients. He says the technology is practically ready for use and explained that in trials lasting between six and eight weeks, the sea urchins reach suitable size, color and commercial quality. This could create a new economic activity with a positive environmental impact.

Researchers from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), in collaboration with Norwegian company Urchinomics, have partnered to develop a similar project. The initiative involves collecting purple sea urchins from the wild and subsequently fattening them in recirculating systems over a period of 10 to 12 weeks. Although the project is still at an early stage, the intention is to continue advancing toward an approach already implemented in other countries, including Japan.

These science- and technology-based strategies represent important advances in the restoration and conservation of marine ecosystems while also promoting the well-being and economic development of local communities.

San Quintin Advances Sustainable Territorial Planning 

In line with the San Quintin Justice Plan, which seeks to help improve living conditions for residents of this region of Baja California, SEMARNAT, and the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (SEDATU), together with the Government of Baja California and the San Quintin Municipal Government, presented the Territorial Operational Program (PTO) for the San Quintín urban area. The planning instrument is intended to guide and coordinate public decisions to promote orderly, equitable, inclusive and sustainable territorial development.

The program will make it possible to coordinate and prioritize actions and facilitate the orderly and effective implementation of public investment committed under the Justice Plan. It will also help identify land with potential for establishing human settlements without exposure to risks or causing environmental impacts, while providing guidance for decision-making by the three levels of government.

The PTO also establishes strategic lines related to water management; comprehensive risk management; environmental protection; land regularization and housing; agricultural workers and interculturality; infrastructure and services; agricultural productivity; institutional strengthening and governance; and gender equity and territorial inclusion.

From an environmental perspective, the PTO recognizes that San Quintin’s development must advance alongside the conservation of its natural heritage. It therefore incorporates criteria to protect ecosystems and water recharge areas, restore degraded areas, reduce pollution, and promote nature-based solutions as well as green and blue infrastructure.

As next steps, the authorities will disseminate the PTO, establish an Interinstitutional Territorial Working Group for its implementation, develop coordination and collaboration agreements, and implement the actions included in the Justice Plan based on territorial criteria.