5. CONCLUSIONS

• As Harvard’s Alternative Futures study showed, there is overexploitation of the aquifer in Loreto. The projected population growth will need to find alternative sources for freshwater. The most popular choice is the construction of a desalination plan, and while we can recommend a process and ways to mitigate impacts on marine and coastal communities, due to the lack of knowledge regarding marine and coastal habitats it is difficult to suggest a specific site for the construction.
• Reverse osmosis is the desalination process most commonly used in Mexico, and some authors point out its advantages in terms of environmental impact over other processes. A desalination plant with this technology would be able to meet Loreto’s need for potable water. Specific elements like screens over water intake pipes, diffusers on discharge pipes, dilution of concentrate prior to discharge, and minimal use of chemicals during the operation of the plant need to be implemented to minimize adverse impacts on marine and coastal communities.
• Surveys and monitoring programs before and after operation of the desalination plant need to be implemented. Surveys before operation, and even construction, can serve as points of comparison and will help measure changes in the local environment. The monitoring program needs to be considered as part of plant’s operation. Data gathered is important to assess the plants impacts and will help plant operators keep them to a minimum.
• There is no map of the marine habitats/communities of the National Marine Park of the Bay of Loreto (NMPBL). Some habitats, including mangroves and shallow seaweed beds, are critical nursery and spawning habitats for many vulnerable species. A bionomic map would prove valuable during the process of decisionmaking regarding development in the region.
• The projected population growth of Loreto will result in increased fishing effort in the NMPBL. The park is not having an effect on fish populations, and some fisheries are currently not sustainable. Increased fishing will erode the marine 30 biodiversity of the park. The management plan of the park needs to be revisited, taking into account the deleterious effects of the projected development.
• The marine park does not have a reliable record of sportfishing activities. If fishing resources are to be managed in a sustainable way, park officials need to gather specific information on the species targeted by this industry and how much of each species is extracted.
• The artisanal fishery plays an important role in the economic sustenance of local communities, and for some families it represents the only source of income. Local fishermen are already witnessing the decrease in catches and even disappearance of some target species. Park managers need to work with fishing communities to create sustainable ways of fishing, and also to incorporate the people of these communities in conservation efforts.