Joel and Jen recently returned from their first visit to the Revillagigedo Islands, also known as Socorro, aboard the Solmar V. This is a protected area in the Pacific Ocean, 200+ miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Currently, the Revillagigedo Islands are being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This is a bucket-list dive destination for most avid scuba divers and underwater photographers for the big animal encounters that are possible here. While diving Roca Partida, one of the four of the islands that comprise this archipelago, they DID NOT expect to see a commercial fishing boat setting its nets very near Roca Partida, and well within the protected area that surrounds Revillagigedo.
Immediately pulling anchor after a dive, the captain of the Solmar V and his crew motored toward the commercial fishing boat, alerting them of their illegal actions. All guests were rightly upset that this brazen, illegal fishing is occurring in a well-known protected area. While there are many socio-economic reasons why this illegal activity continues, if there is hope to preserve our oceans and planet for future generations, this illegal activity must end with those responsible held accountable for their actions.
