Natural Products

En EspaĂąol

Working Definition for the NP Goal

The objective of the NP goal is to quantify the benefits of sustainable legal harvest of commercially-important and culturally-important resources not used for food in the Gulf of California.

This definition is finalized for now, based on conversations had in Goalkeeper Meetings #1 and #2. See the Meeting #2 tab below for more details.

This goal assesses whether countries are maximizing the sustainable harvest of non-food marine resources.

CORE DEFINITION

This is the core definition of the global OHI framework. This will be adapted and tailored to the Gulf of California by the Goalkeeper Group.

Focus: The natural products goal measures the sustainable harvest of ocean resources—such as seaweeds, ornamental fish, shells, corals, and other non-food marine products—that people use for medicine, construction, crafts, and cultural purposes. It highlights the balance between use and long-term availability.

Not: This goal does not include fish and shellfish harvested for food (covered under the Food Provision goal). It also does not assess the economic value of products (Livelihoods & Economies goal), or cultural importance beyond harvest (Sense of Place goal).


Although there are no formal sub-goals, this goal draws on several types of marine resources that people harvest for non-food purposes. In the global framework, these include:

  1. Seaweeds and algae – harvested for food additives, fertilizers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

  2. Ornamental species – such as reef fish, corals, shells, and sponges collected for aquariums, jewelry, and crafts.

  3. Other marine materials – including items like corals for building materials or saguaro cacti for cultural uses.

Each component reflects a different way that people depend on the ocean beyond food. The goal measures whether these resources are being used sustainably, so that harvest today does not compromise availability in the future.

And together, we will assess this for the Gulf of California!

Goalkeeper Meetings

Meeting Access

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3255055973

Team Members

Names of team members listed in alphabetical order

  • Miguel Betancourt
  • Francisco Fernandez
  • Jaqueline Garcia-Hernandez
  • Liliana Rojo

Meeting Schedule (Thursday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT)

Meeting Date Specific Date Focus
1 July July 31, 2025 Group introductions, OHI platform overview, goal calculations
2 August August 28, 2025 Model and reference point discussion
3 September September 25, 2025 Model, reference point, and data sources
4 October October 30, 2025 Preliminary results and pressure/resilience
5 November November 20, 2025 Final analysis plan review
6 December December 11, 2025 (tentative) Tentative
6 December January December 11, 2025 (TBD) Tentative

Co-authorship Information

This project provides opportunities to collaborate with regional experts and contribute to Gulf of California OHI assessment. Participation will be acknowledged on the website and other products. Additional co-authorship opportunities may be available with extra commitment as outlined here.

Google Calendar

Add the shared calendar to your Google Calendar account using the provided link. It will appear under “Other calendars” and provide access to all scheduled meetings with updated Zoom links.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to working on this initiative with you!

Meeting #5 will take place in 2026

Please stay tuned for more information and updates to the meeting schedule.

Working List of Natural Products

As of Meeting #2 (August, 2025) (under construction) - Algaes (note: currently there is little algae aquaculture in the GoC but lots of potential) - Animal feed and bioactive food additives (used for human and animal nutrition) - Aquarium trade species - Biofuels and bioenergy - Fertilizers, biofertilizers - Fisheries residues: fish, crustaceans, molluscs - Pearls - Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics - Salt - Seashell byproducts / residues - Traditional medicines / homeopathy (e.g., totoaba bladder, peyote, mangroves)

Working list as of end Meeting 3 (October, 2025).

Meeting #1 introduced participants to the Ocean Health Index and its application to the Gulf of California, with Erica explaining the index’s methodology and regional assessment approach. The team discussed natural products in the Gulf, exploring various potential resources and sustainability considerations, including fishery bycatch, waste utilization, and Totoaba culture. Participants agreed to gather more information about biomass sources and reference points for natural products, while exploring ways to measure and improve sustainable resource use in the region.

Resources shared during Meeting #1

  • Presentation Slides
    learn more about Ocean Health Index, the goals of this project in the Gulf of California, and objectives for the Goalkeeper Group.
  • Meeting #1 Summary & General Notes
    catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your quick thoughts offline.

Resources shared during our meetings can be accessed in the group’s shared google drive here.

In Meeting #2, we will discuss how we might measure and assess ‘Natural Products’ in the Gulf, and possible NP reference points, so please come prepared for this discussion. A reference point is defined as the ideal state of natural products in the GoC.

The main focus of Meeting #2 was to solidify the goal definition before selecting model indicators. In this context, our ‘model’ will be a series of indicators intended to capture the definition of the goal; it will probably not be very mathematically complicated. Erica outlined the goal workflow – a six-step process from step 1 (defining the goal) to step 6 (verifying model outputs). Participants discussed various products and their applications as well as challenges for quantification and categorization. The team worked to define non-subsistence resources and explored waste and residue indicators, with discussions on how to measure benefits and incorporate waste into the goal model. The conversation ended with a group activity focused on defining the NP goal (link to whiteboard activity below). A working definition for the goal was solidified!

Resources shared during NP Meeting #2

  • Meeting #2 Presentation Slides
    slides to guide our discussion. We discussed workflow, terminology, and solidified the definition / objective for the ‘Natural Products’ goal.
  • Meeting #2 Summary & General Notes
    catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your thoughts offline.
  • Powerpoint presentation shared by Liliana
    please review Liliana’s presentation on natural products in the region! It is incredibly helpful.
  • Whiteboard Group Activity
    review the whiteboard / group activity shared during the meeting, wherein participants were asked to write their definition of the goal.

Homework for NP Meeting #3: Please review the list of natural products and come prepared to discuss goal indicators, data sources, and technical reference points. Keep in mind that our working definition captures the intent of the goal, whereas indicators represent the specific types of data we will use to quantify the goal’s status.

In Meeting #3, the team explored various data sources and technical reference points for each product identified last meeting (see working list of natural products above). Most of the discussion was focused on how to establish a technical reference point for each product, given data constraints. In particular, the team discussed challenges in data collection for small-scale operations. Members analyzed specific natural products, including salt production and marine algae, and discussed how to assess the sustainability of each product.

Resources shared during NP Meeting #3

Plan for NP Meeting #4: Erica will come with a preliminary NP “dummy” model for the group to think about and critique, and we will continue our discussion of technical reference points given available data sources.

Keep in mind that a technical reference point for each indicator will be critical as it is essentially a goal “baseline”. If an indicator does not have a technical reference point associated with it, it will be difficult if not impossible for us to parameterize it within the goal model. So, we might have to get creative in terms of selecting reference points for this goal… Exciting! Please come prepared to share your perspective on these important topics.

In Meeting #4, the team discussed two important topics:

  • First, the team discussed the proposed method of scoring the NP goal. They agreed that the goal model should include some estimate of total production, product ‘use value’, product ‘potential’, product sustainability, and data completeness. Product use value, potential, and sustainability can be determined by expert opinion, whereas total production (e.g., total kilograms of algae, fish oil, etc.) and data completeness will be calculated by members of the OHI Core Team. This handful of indicators may help us overcome issues of low data availability. For example, a product like cultured algae may have low data availability and low total production but high use value and high potential. In contrast, a product like shark fin might have high data availability and high total production but low sustainability. Group members discussed how to penalize certain products like shark fin for their negative impacts on biodiversity and conservation.

  • Second, the group discussed how to use the CONAPESCA database to estimate production of key natural products, including fishery residues (sea shells, shrimp heads, bladder, and fins), fish oil, ornamental fishes, some species used for crafts (like pearl oysters and sea stars), and algaes. They reviewed various natural products and their traditional uses, while also exploring potential future applications and classification approaches for these products.

  • The group agreed to continue refining their product list and measurement approaches, with plans to reconvene in the new year. There is no “homework” for the next meeting. Enjoy the holidays and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year!

Resources shared during NP Meeting #4

Please keep an eye on your email for details regarding NP Meeting #5!

Expert Working Group (EWG) Meetings

These are some of the points discussed by the Expert Working Group.

Current status in Gulf of California

  • Development Level: Not super well developed yet in Gulf of California
  • Potential: Huge potential for growth despite current limited development
  • Challenge: How to demonstrate this potential in assessment framework!

Sustainable natural products mentioned:

Salt production

  • Generally non-destructive practice using salt flats
  • Conservation Benefits:
    • Provides nesting areas for shorebirds
    • Salina Lobos (medium-size plant) showing good conservation results
  • Human consumption uses and industrial applications (e.g., road salt)
  • Positive example of sustainable marine resource extraction

Marine agriculture/industry

  • Fishmeal: Sardines and anchovies used for animal feed production
  • Biogas: Potential opportunity, though not always implemented
  • Composting: Fish waste composting as potential indicator
  • Infrastructure: Seasonal use of facilities for multiple products

Algae products

  • Cosmetics: Marine algae used in beauty products
  • Medicine: Traditional and modern medicinal applications
  • Indigenous use: Traditional medicinal products documented in research (Nemer’s paper, ask Jaqueline for this)
  • Rhodoliths: Harvested for heart conditions and traditional medicine

Aquarium trade

  • Limited operations (Loreto operation stopped)
  • Restrictions due to protected area designations
  • Individual operators previously active, but not so much anymore

Problematic/Illegal Natural Products

High value illegal trade

  • Totoaba swim bladders:
    • Used for medicine in China
    • Massive IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing problem
    • Major conservation pressure
  • Sea lion products: Male organs exported to China
  • Shark fins: Regulated through permits but enforcement challenges
  • Sea horses: Part of traditional medicine trade
  • Black Coral: Permit-regulated but potentially problematic (-AM)
  • Mangrove Timber: Legally protected but illegally harvested
    • Creates pressure despite being renewable resource
    • Corporate restoration requirements (replant more than destroyed)

Non-renewable extraction

  • Sand Mining:
    • Used for construction
    • Not renewable resource
    • Damages coastline
    • Location: Primarily in arroyos rather than direct coast

How we could possibly group these:

  1. Sustainable Products: Salt, some algae, regulated aquarium trade
  2. Traditional/Indigenous Products: Medicinal algae and rhodoliths
  3. Industrial Products: Fishmeal, biogas, composting materials
  4. Illegal/Problematic Products: Totoaba bladders, sea lion parts, illegal timber
  5. Non-Renewable Extraction Products: Sand mining

However, there are seasonal considerations and regulatory challenges:

  • Protected areas: Restricting some previously allowed activities
  • Permit systems: Shark fins, black coral requiring official permits
  • Enforcement: Gap between regulations and actual enforcement
  • International trade: China market driving illegal harvesting of sea lions, shark fins, black coral, and swim bladders

Possible resilience?

  • Conservation co-benefits: Shorebird nesting success in salt operations
  • Restoration requirements: Corporate mangrove replanting compliance

Pressure possibilities

  • Totoaba, sea lion, and other high value species illegal poaching
  • Coastline damage assessment of sand mining
  • Mangrove harvest of timber
  • International demand driving illegal activities

Development potential was mentioned a lot!!

  • Seasonal facility utilization,
  • Reuse of fishmeal
  • Biogas and composting implementation
  • Permit system effectiveness could increase
  • Indigenous knowledge integration

Contact Us:

OHI Core Analytical Team Natural Products Goalkeeper Group