SMA PROGRAMS: Biocultural CONSERVATION:
Native Trout Project

In conjunction with the Watershed Restoration Program, SMA and Consejo EcoRegional Sierra Tarahumara A.C. have begun research, local education, institutional outreach and fundraising to protect native trout in the Sierra.

The Guadalupe y Calvo region is home to the endemic Mexican Golden Trout which is the only salmanoid species in Mexico. In the north, there exist endemic subspecies of rainbow trout.

Native trout in the Sierra are threatened by destruction of the watersheds which affect streamflow, water quality, water temperature, silt load, and gravelbed conditions essential to trout reproduction and survival. However, the biggest threat to native trout is the proliferation of rainbow trout tanks in the Sierra using domesticated trout species from the state of Washington. Nonnative trout, which are accidentally or sometimes intentionally released in the Sierra, are aggressive competitors of native fish and can completely decimate native populations.

SMA is proposing to sponsor studies of the threats to and conditions of native trout populations in collaboration with U.S. and Mexican experts and authorities. Consejo EcoRegional Sierra Tarahumara A.C. has begun communication with the Municipio of Guadalupe y Calvo, which has very few trout farms compared to the rest of the Sierra. Local authorities are enthusiastic about protecting native trout.

However, the state and federal government are promoting trout farms as a development alternative and large amounts of funding have been dedicated this year to establishing new trout farms. No environmental impact assessments have been made to establish protection standards for native trout.