Los Islotes and Isla San Francisco
After a very smooth night of travel we found ourselves at sunrise watching the green flash off Los Islotes. A group of bottlenose dolphins approached the ship, followed a short time later by a group of common dolphins as we headed toward our anchorage.
Following breakfast, we boarded the Zodiacs for a cruise around Los Islotes to get up close and personal with the numerous California sea lions which call the island home. Huge bulls greeted us with their loud barking and the females and young of the past year cavorted around the Zodiacs. Somewhat clumsy on land the sea lions were a vision of grace and beauty in the water as they dove beneath the surface of the clear water or approached the boats to inspect the bubble streams emanating from the motors. Various seabirds including blue-footed and brown boobies roosted on the cliffs.
While approaching the island, we observed a shrimp trawler heading in the opposite direction. Dozens of birds perched in the rigging including a male frigate with its red throat pouch partially inflated. All the birds were waiting for the shrimp nets to be cleaned so they could feed on the discarded fish. Sadly the shrimp fishery in the Sea of Cortez suffers from over fishing. The bottom trawls, in addition, do a lot of harm to the sea floor environment and many non-target species of marine animals are caught in the nets only to be discarded later as by-catch. In order to discourage these non-sustainable fisheries, Lindblad Expeditions has lent its support to the Marine Stewardship Council or MSC. The goal of this organization is to support environmentally responsible fisheries in order to halt over fishing and damage to marine ecosystems. Products which bear the MSC label direct consumers to the best environmental choices in seafood.
Later in the afternoon we anchored off Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco for kayaking, snorkeling and walks across the island. While we were engaged in these activities the ship’s crew moved an entire dining facility ashore for a barbecue dinner.A perfect sunset over Baja California capped a most enjoyable and fun filled day.
After a very smooth night of travel we found ourselves at sunrise watching the green flash off Los Islotes. A group of bottlenose dolphins approached the ship, followed a short time later by a group of common dolphins as we headed toward our anchorage.
Following breakfast, we boarded the Zodiacs for a cruise around Los Islotes to get up close and personal with the numerous California sea lions which call the island home. Huge bulls greeted us with their loud barking and the females and young of the past year cavorted around the Zodiacs. Somewhat clumsy on land the sea lions were a vision of grace and beauty in the water as they dove beneath the surface of the clear water or approached the boats to inspect the bubble streams emanating from the motors. Various seabirds including blue-footed and brown boobies roosted on the cliffs.
While approaching the island, we observed a shrimp trawler heading in the opposite direction. Dozens of birds perched in the rigging including a male frigate with its red throat pouch partially inflated. All the birds were waiting for the shrimp nets to be cleaned so they could feed on the discarded fish. Sadly the shrimp fishery in the Sea of Cortez suffers from over fishing. The bottom trawls, in addition, do a lot of harm to the sea floor environment and many non-target species of marine animals are caught in the nets only to be discarded later as by-catch. In order to discourage these non-sustainable fisheries, Lindblad Expeditions has lent its support to the Marine Stewardship Council or MSC. The goal of this organization is to support environmentally responsible fisheries in order to halt over fishing and damage to marine ecosystems. Products which bear the MSC label direct consumers to the best environmental choices in seafood.
Later in the afternoon we anchored off Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco for kayaking, snorkeling and walks across the island. While we were engaged in these activities the ship’s crew moved an entire dining facility ashore for a barbecue dinner.A perfect sunset over Baja California capped a most enjoyable and fun filled day.
