Cabo Pulmo: Reviving the World’s Oldest Coral Reef and Empowering Local Communities

(Photo Credit: ZuBlu)

Cabo Pulmo, located on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, is home to the oldest coral reef on North America's west coast, estimated to be 20,000 years old. Once overfished, the area was declared a marine protected area in 1995, and fishing was banned.The results were astounding—by 2010, total fish populations had increased by 462%. Cabo Pulmo is now a model for marine conservation, proving that when given a chance, the ocean can recover. Today, it is a thriving underwater haven, attracting divers eager to see massive schools of fish, rays, and even bull sharks.