The Grau Tropical Sea is one of Peru’s most biodiverse marine regions, home to species like humpback whales, manta rays and sea turtles. The area is unique because it is where two ocean currents converge: the cold Humboldt Current and the warm Guayaquil (Southern Equatorial) Current. This convergence creates a highly productive marine ecosystem, making it a transition zone with a large concentration of endemic species and even species new to science.
In 2023, a proposal to formally designate it as a national reserve was put forward. Before it was officially approved, Mongabay Latam published a report that critically examined contradictions in the plan. Although it was one of the most anticipated protected areas due to its high biodiversity, the proposal allowed industrial fishing methods like bottom trawling in 45% of the marine reserve.
Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy nets along the seafloor, a practice that destroys coral reefs, sponge beds, and fish nurseries. Experts described its inclusion as “an absurdity,” noting that no other protected area in the world permits such an extractive practice. Marine scientists and conservation organizations warned that allowing bottom trawling would undermine Peru’s conservation goals and harm biodiversity in a globally significant area.
