The Current - Volume 1, Issue 1
(December 2025)
We are excited to share the debut issue of The Current, created by the Marine Wildlife Rescue Center of Mexico. Enjoy a mix of articles, local updates, and our first Volunteer Spotlight!
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Northwest Scientists Hope Underwater Fiber Optic Cables Help Save Endangered Orcas
By ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG (Associated Press) October 19, 2025 6 a.m.
These rare whales had never been seen alive. Then a team in Mexico spotted two
The hunt for a ginkgo-toothed beaked whale had taken five years, when a thieving albatross almost ruined everything
By Fanni Szakál. Mon 17 Nov 2025 The Guardian
Until last year's sightings, the only evidence of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale's existence came from a few dead specimens that had stranded.
Photograph: Craig Hayslip
Current Threat: Offshore Oil & Gas Production
By Rebecca Loomis & Valerie Cleland, November 20, 2025
NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council)
There is a current plan to sell 34 new leases for offshore oil & gas production and extraction along the California, Alaska, and Gulf of Mexico coasts. If approved, the impacts on marine ecosystems will be severe, not only in the immediate drilling zones, but potentially extending all the way down into our waters in Baja California.
Under the banner of an energy "state of emergency," the U.S. administration is choosing to "double down" on oil & gas efforts instead of prioritizing a clean energy future.
Marine life, particularly marine mammals, is at heightened risk. These actions could be catastrophic for many endangered and protected species. Blue whales, humpback whales, and fin whales are vulnerable to the proposed drilling in the Pacific.
The fossil fuel industry continues to be extraordinarily profitable and leverages that influence to shape government policy and public opinion. The current Trump administration is heavily pro-fossil fuels, and in attempting to appear concerned about wildlife, has circulated misinformation, specifically the false claim that offshore wind energy threatens whales more than oil & gas exploitation.
Offshore drilling disrupts whales' ability to communicate, feed, and reproduce. It introduces significant stress into their environment and undermines their survival.
It's essential to act and raise our voices, as our neighbors to the north are not adequately protecting the animals that inhabit the shared waters along our coasts.
Click on Natural Resources Defense Council to learn more about this escalated situation.
Sourced & summarized by Maya Miller, MMWRC.org
Featured Volunteer
Maya - A Global Citizen with an Ocean Heart
This month, we are delighted to feature Maya, 17, in our "Featured Volunteer" spotlight, whose passion for the ocean has been forged by a life of global experiences. Despite working remotely as a volunteer, her dedication continues to make a significant impact at MMWRC.org. As our junior journalist, Maya will be responsible for selecting timely and relevant articles, and providing engaging summaries for our readers.
Born in Washington, D.C., Maya's life took an extraordinary turn at six months old when her family moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, where she spent her early childhood. After her brother's birth, her family relocated to Honduras, then to Peru, and later to Mexico, totaling 14 years living in Latin America. These early years immersed her not only in diverse cultures but also in the incredible ecosystems that sparked her deep love for the natural world.
With a father working for USAID on sustainable development projects, Maya grew up seeing environmental challenges and solutions firsthand. It's no surprise that she developed a strong sense of responsibility for the planet.
Maya's connection to the ocean started early; at three years old, she was already snorkeling in Roatán, Honduras, the place where her passion for marine life "truly captivated her."
By eighth grade, she had already earned her diving license, exploring sites all over Mexico. One of her most unforgettable underwater moments was encountering bull sharks in Baja California.
A passionate photographer, Maya is especially drawn to wildlife and nature photography, capturing the beauty of the world she loves to explore. She has visited remarkable marine regions such as the Galapagos, Paracas, Máncora, the Gulf of Mexico, Roatán, and both coasts of Baja California. Her dream? To see orcas in the wild someday.
Today, Maya lives in Northern Virginia, where she is in her penultimate year of high school. Completely bilingual in English and Spanish, she continues to support the Mexico Marine Wildlife Rescue Center remotely, proof that dedication to conservation can overcome any distance. When she's not studying or volunteering, she spends time with her two beloved dogs, who keep her grounded and smiling.
We are incredibly grateful for Maya's enthusiasm, talent, and global perspective. Her journey reminds us that protecting our oceans is a shared responsibility, transcending countries, languages, and generations.
Thank you, Maya, for being part of our community and for inspiring others to explore, protect, and value our blue planet!
The Waters of La Paz Come Back to Life
The return of whale sharks, playful sea lion pups, and migratory whales marks one of the most vibrant times of the year in the Gulf of California. Here's what our rescue and conservation team is seeing in the water right now.
Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants in the Bay
Juvenile whale sharks have returned to La Paz. These endangered animals glide peacefully on the surface from late autumn through spring, feeding in our plankton-rich waters.

Local shark research teams monitor their population. Reports of entanglement or stranding are made, and we respond with the help of local tour operators. It's a collaborative effort to ensure every encounter remains safe and focused on conservation.
Whale shark tourism in La Paz is well-regulated and only permitted within the designated protection area. All operators and guides must be licensed, specially trained, and comply with strict guidelines. It is their job to protect these unique animals.
Baby Sea Lions: A Season of Play
Baby sea lion pups around Espiritu Santo Island are entering their most playful stage of development. Now confident swimmers, they practice dives, chase fish, and learn social behaviors, often curiously approaching divers.
Guides maintain a respectful distance from colonies and territorial males. Our team documents pup health, entanglement risks, and unusual behaviors. This year's cohort appears active, healthy, and very social.
If you choose to participate in an excursion that involves swimming with sea lions, please:
  • Respect their space: Stay calm, just observe, do not touch or feed.
  • Leave no trace: Pick up all trash and avoid disturbing the habitat.
  • Protect the water: Use a rash guard instead of sunscreen.
  • Support responsible operators: Report anyone who encourages touching or feeding.
  • Choose small groups: They reduce stress on wildlife.
Whales Returning to the Gulf
📌 Quick Reference Table
*“La Paz Area” here includes nearby waters, not always within the bay.
The cooler season welcomes migratory Humpback and Gray Whales back to Baja. The first blows and breaches of the season have already been spotted.
  • Humpback whales migrate from their northern feeding grounds (e.g., Alaska, North Pacific) to the warmer waters of Baja to breed, calve, and socialize.
  • In the region, they are most commonly seen between December and April.
  • Typical behavior includes breaching (jumping out of the water), tail slapping, and very noticeable "pectoral fin waves".
Current/Upcoming Window:
Humpback whales are beginning their arrival. Therefore, you might start seeing signs (blows, flukes, surface behavior) soon, and then in the heart of their season (Dec-Apr) you are likely to see more.
Conservation/Observation Note:
Respect animals by keeping your distance, minimizing engine noise, and avoiding interrupting mother-calf pairs.
Our Mission: Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintroduction
Emergency Response
24/7 coordination with federal authorities PROFEPA and CONANP to quickly respond to reports of marine life in distress.
Expert Rehabilitation
Providing specialized medical care and rehabilitation support for sick or injured marine life, utilizing best practices in wildlife veterinary medicine.
Large Whale Entanglement Response
Rapid intervention and specialized techniques to safely disentangle whales from fishing nets and other marine debris.
Safe Return to the Ocean
Careful reintroduction of recovered animals to their natural habitat, following strict national wildlife protection protocols.
Community Education
Raising awareness through school programs and community outreach to foster shared responsibility in ocean conservation.
Our collaborative conservation approach, involving federal agencies such as CONANP and PROFEPA, local authorities, and community members, ensures that every rescue follows established protocols. This integrated network maximizes successful rehabilitation and significantly improves survival rates for vulnerable marine populations in the Gulf of California.
The Rich Biodiversity We Protect
The Gulf of California is a global conservation priority, home to astonishing marine life including over 900 fish species, 37 marine mammal species, and five of the world's seven sea turtle species.
Our work not only saves individual animals but also advances scientific understanding of marine health, migration, and human impacts. Collected data informs conservation strategies, policy decisions, and community education, strengthening our commitment to protecting these magnificent creatures.
Pinnipeds
Four pinniped species are present in Mexico. Both sea lions and seals often require rescue from fishing gear entanglements and human-related injuries. They are also vulnerable to the effects of pollution and toxic algal blooms.
Sea Turtles
Five endangered species nest and feed here, making our rescue and rehabilitation efforts critical for their recovery.
Dolphins
Dolphins face threats from nets, pollution, and harmful algal blooms and marine debris, necessitating expert intervention.
Whale Sharks
These gentle giants migrate through our waters; we respond to occasional incidents of strandings and vessel collisions.
Whales
Species such as humpback and fin whales are vulnerable to fishing gear entanglement, requiring specialized disentanglement.
Seabirds
Seabirds like pelicans are especially vulnerable to entanglement and injuries, and our team responds when reported.