Saguaro LNG Puts Gulf of California's Marine Life at Risk

Sunita Somvanshi

Over 30 conservation groups have called for urgent action against the Saguaro LNG project in Mexico's Gulf of California, warning it threatens a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Photo Source: Thinkpanama (CC BY-NC 2.0)

The project would transport liquefied natural gas from the U.S. Permian Basin through a Mexican facility to Asian markets, representing one of Mexico's largest foreign investments.

Photo Source: Lens Envy (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Mexico is incredibly lucky to have the wondrous Gulf of California, and threatening that unique environment with a fossil fuel project is complete recklessness," said Alex Olivera from the Center for Biological Diversity.

Photo Source: Vishal Bhave (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Increased LNG tanker traffic would put blue whales, fin whales, and sperm whales at greater risk of ship strikes, noise pollution, and habitat destruction in their historic safe haven.

Photo Source: NOAA Photo Library (CC BY 2.0)

The Gulf of California, called the "aquarium of the world," hosts 43 marine mammal species including one-third of all whale and dolphin species—eight of which are threatened.

Photo Source: GoodFon.com (Atomic50-CC BY-NC 4.0)

Beyond marine impacts, LNG production releases methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, accelerating climate change.

Photo Source: GEOSPATIAL WORLD (Sachin Awana CC BY 3.0)

While proponents tout job creation and tax revenue benefits, conservationists demand the World Heritage Committee assess the project's risks and Mexico halt development pending environmental reviews.

Photo Source: Premnath Thirumalaisamy (CC BY-NC 2.0)

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