Campaign for Sustainable Fisheries Management/Biosphere Reserve Isla San Pedro Martir, Sonora

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Community embracing San Pedro Martir Pride Campaign

It is a nice evening with a beautiful sunset on the horizon at Kino Bay, Sonora. On the public stage of Kino Bay´s boulevard Campaign Manager Adriana Ochoa, Marina - her sea turtle mascot, a group of volunteers, park staff and about 200 kineños are having a great time performing and participating on a Pride activity with games, gifts, music and lots of education about sustainable fishing practices. This presentation is part of a series of activities Pride Campaign Manager and Park Director had designed for Isla San Pedro Martir Biosphere Reserve campaign. Local inhabitants having fun on an unusual public scenario and receiving Pride gifts for their participation is not a common activity at this 5,000 people town. Me as a mentor of this campaign, enjoy as well this community festivals, but something that really thrill me is the way key stakeholders of this campaign are involved and help Adriana to make things happen. Earlier that day, a group of 7 young volunteers were waiting for Adriana to start setting up the stage for this festival. Volunteers designed a series of tasks to show up kineños how they can promote sustainable fishing practices, and that Pride show had as back screen a mural they painted some months ago. Also, chairs and a table was required for audience and take away souvenirs from campaign. Campaign manager went with a local restaurant business owner and without hesitation, business owner lend any chairs Adriana would need for the Pride activity. Actuallly, the business women demanded more activities like the one was about to take place. The show was a great success and people were enthusiastic with the activity. Campaign manager was exhausted but with a huge smile on her face. I am sure it was not only to her success but to all the support and love kineños had given to her on the last months. Next day volunteers were painting some murals at Kino and campaign manager decide to make them a BBQ to celebrate their commitment with the Pride campaign, again we require to buy some complementary meals and rent some dishes and glasses from another restaurant business woman. She fixed the complementary meals (you know guacamole, home made spicy sauces and beans) and once we picked up things and try to pay the bill, the business woman said “It´s nothing , this is on the house, if these is for volunteers this is a small way I would like to contribute to the cause”, simply incredible. As a Pride mentor, this is the way I get inspire and understand why I do what I do and It just make me want to do things better. Community support is perhaps one of the best way to measure succes on these campaigns. Congratullations to Campaign Manager Adriana Ochoa, Park Director Ana Luisa Figueroa and other partners that made this succesfull campaign happen.

Photos by Jason Houston








Comments (3)

The mascot is so cool. Why is it all Rare turtle mascots are awesome?

Great photos and story. Keep us updated on this campaign's progress. How did the children respond to the turtle mascot? It looks like they were having a lot of fun with him.

Wonderful story Oswaldo, congratulations Adriana on inspiring Pride in the Kino Bay community. Maravillosa historia de Oswaldo, Adriana felicitaciones al inspirar orgullo en la comunidad de Bahía de Kino

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