Chronology of the Laguna San Ignacio Science Program

            Steven L. Swartz , Mary Lou Jones, and Mike Bursk conducted the first systematic studies of gray whales in Laguna San Ignacio from 1977-1982. In subsequent years other scientists that came to the lagoon included Bruce Mate and Jim Harvey who conducted early radio-tagging research, Jim Sumich and his students researched gray whale calf growth and energetic, and Marilyn Dahlheim conducted the first bioacoustics research. Little research was conducted between 1986 and 1995. Dr. Jorge Urbán R., his colleagues and students resumed abundance surveys for gray whales in 1996. Beginning in 2002, Swartz and Urbán collaborated to rescue and archive historic photographic identification data for gray whales, and developed the first Photo-ID Database for the Baja California lagoons. They began developing the "ecosystem science program concept" in 2005, and in 2006 proposed additional scientific investigations on other marine species and aspects of the lagoon ecosystem to complement research and monitoring of gray whales. In 2007 they joined forces with Chris Pesenti of Pro-Peninsula, to bring a social-economic component to the science program. Pro-Peninsula is a leading nonprofit organization that supports conservation activities throughout the Baja California peninsula to empower communities and organizations to protect and preserve their environment. The winter of 2008 will mark the second year of the "ecosystem science" program at Laguna San Ignacio.