Pacific loggerhead turtles: in whose hands?

Because fisheries bycatch off the Baja California peninsula is currently the greatest documented threat to the critically endangered North Pacific loggerhead turtle, the future of this ocean- and culture-connecting migratory species is primarily in the hands of Mexican fishers. Ironically, it is difficult for many of Baja California's halibut and shark fishers to understand that loggerhead turtles are endangered because they can catch up to twelve turtles in a single day.

In Caguamas del Pacifico: ¿En Quienes Manos? Baja California fishers present the fascinating transpacific migration of the loggerhead turtle featuring hands-on deployment of satellite tags, rare underwater turtle footage, stunning Baja California scenery, and galvanizing turtle rodeo action sequences. Fishers share the staggering turtle mortality they encounter on a daily basis, and for the first time, propose alternative fishing strategies.

Caguamas del Pacifico: ¿En Quienes Manos? documents a landmark: Baja California fishers "owning" the fisheries bycatch problem and proposing practical ecological solutions to protect the loggerhead turtle, pan-Pacific multicultural symbol of wisdom and endurance.

This film was made through Proyecto Caguama (Operation Loggerhead) a project of the Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, AC. For more information see:

http://www.grupotortuguero.org

Directed and photographed by Hoyt Peckham
Additional footage: Alejandro Aguilar, Chris Figler, and Lisa Grossman