The Vermilion Sea Institute is located in Baja California, a state in Mexico located directly south of California, USA. It is one of 32 Mexican states, and is the most northern/western state.
The Vermilion Sea Institute is comprised of Rancho San Gregorio, a ranch nestled in a canyon among the mountains and sprawling rocky landscape of cacti in the Vizcaíno desert, as well as the Vermilion Sea Field Station on the Sea of Cortez in Bahía de los Ángeles.
About
"The mission of the Vermilion Sea Institute is to foster sustainable and enriching relationships between human societies and the ecosystems that support them."
"The mission of the Vermilion Sea Institute is to foster sustainable and enriching relationships between human societies and the ecosystems that support them."
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| Figure 1. Landscape in the Vizcaíno Desert |
I had the honor of visiting VSI at both of these locations in July 2019 as a part of my graduate studies with Project Dragonfly. Beyond the physical landscape, there is a tangible magic of wonder and discovery that is alive in my memories. I hiked up rocky paths to watch the sunrise over the cacti-covered mountains, and could see so many stars in the night sky that they almost blended together. I saw the Milky Way. I lay in my cot every night at Rancho San Gregorio and watched the moon rise slowly over the mountain. I watched hummingbirds flit by, and scorpions and bats come out to hunt at night.
Late at night when the tide went out in front of the Vermilion Sea Institute, I stepped carefully among the rocks and just stopped - and observed SO many fish and crustaceans. Life I surely would not have noticed if I had carried on my way. I woke up to the most beautiful sunrises with a cool breeze on my face, and saw whales for the first time in my life. I was even lucky enough to not only see, but swim with whale sharks - the largest species of fish in the world!
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| Figure 2. Night Sky with the Milky Way |
Late at night when the tide went out in front of the Vermilion Sea Institute, I stepped carefully among the rocks and just stopped - and observed SO many fish and crustaceans. Life I surely would not have noticed if I had carried on my way. I woke up to the most beautiful sunrises with a cool breeze on my face, and saw whales for the first time in my life. I was even lucky enough to not only see, but swim with whale sharks - the largest species of fish in the world!
Project Highlight
Just as in the time spent with other students at VSI, many other travelers from all walks of life have found their way to Baja California. From partnerships with major universities to researchers and conservationists, VSI is a true steward of active inquiry and learning for all.
At the Vermilion Sea Field Institute, people of all ages can participate in a citizen science project with whale sharks as a part of the Stars to Sea program. By photographing whale sharks, and then uploading the images to a database, biologists working on whale shark research can better identify and track them worldwide [1].
In Bahía de los Ángeles, VSI has built relationships with local fishermen based on a mutual respect for sustainable fishing practices. To promote this even further, VSI is developing a program that would enable fresh catches to be delivered directly to organic farms that are a part of Community Supported Agriculture programs [2]. Consumers will not only understand where their fish came from, but also get to support sustainable fishing they can trust.
Just as in the time spent with other students at VSI, many other travelers from all walks of life have found their way to Baja California. From partnerships with major universities to researchers and conservationists, VSI is a true steward of active inquiry and learning for all.
At the Vermilion Sea Field Institute, people of all ages can participate in a citizen science project with whale sharks as a part of the Stars to Sea program. By photographing whale sharks, and then uploading the images to a database, biologists working on whale shark research can better identify and track them worldwide [1].
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| Figure 3. Whale shark in the Sea of Cortez |
In Bahía de los Ángeles, VSI has built relationships with local fishermen based on a mutual respect for sustainable fishing practices. To promote this even further, VSI is developing a program that would enable fresh catches to be delivered directly to organic farms that are a part of Community Supported Agriculture programs [2]. Consumers will not only understand where their fish came from, but also get to support sustainable fishing they can trust.
New and Noteworthy News
At the time of writing this blog, many businesses, schools, and entertainment venues have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are practicing social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The Vermilion Sea Institute has stepped up to provide online learning in the form of different nature-based lessons with partner scientists and educators. "Keep Your Learn On VSI" is hosted on Zoom and varies by date. Learn more here!
At the time of writing this blog, many businesses, schools, and entertainment venues have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are practicing social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The Vermilion Sea Institute has stepped up to provide online learning in the form of different nature-based lessons with partner scientists and educators. "Keep Your Learn On VSI" is hosted on Zoom and varies by date. Learn more here!
Conservation Challenge
In honor of the Vermilion Sea Institute's dedication to promote a healthy relationship between people and the environment, as well as the beautiful Sea of Cortez that it calls home, today's conservation challenge is about plastic pollution.
Plastic is all around us. It is used in everything from packaging, to everyday items that we use. Each year, an average family in America uses 1500 plastic bags, but only 1% is recycled [3]. Sadly, the majority of plastic found in the ocean originates on land [3].
10 points each: follow the Vermilion Sea Institute on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
50 points: watch the video
100 points: use a reusable bag next time you go to the store (including produce) or
verbally decline a plastic bag and carry your items by hand
[1]: Vermilion Sea Institute. (2020). Stars to Sea. https://vermilionseainstitute.org/programs/fromthestarstosea/
[2]: Vermilion Sea Institute. (2020). Fisheries Support. https://vermilionseainstitute.org/programs/fisheries-support/
[3]: Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). The Problem With Plastic Bags. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html
Figure 1: Baja California Desert. (2003). Wikipedia. https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Baja_California_Desert.jpg
Figure 2: slworking2. (2018, April 15). Milky Way Over Alien Rocky Desert Landscape. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/41792500871
Figure 3: Schrauger, J. (2019). Whale shark in the Sea of Cortez.
Figure 4: WWF International. (2018, June 27). Plastic Pollution [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA9O9YUbQew
In honor of the Vermilion Sea Institute's dedication to promote a healthy relationship between people and the environment, as well as the beautiful Sea of Cortez that it calls home, today's conservation challenge is about plastic pollution.
Plastic is all around us. It is used in everything from packaging, to everyday items that we use. Each year, an average family in America uses 1500 plastic bags, but only 1% is recycled [3]. Sadly, the majority of plastic found in the ocean originates on land [3].
Figure 4: Video about Plastic Pollution
10 points each: follow the Vermilion Sea Institute on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
50 points: watch the video
100 points: use a reusable bag next time you go to the store (including produce) or
verbally decline a plastic bag and carry your items by hand
Add up your points and make sure to visit the Conservation Challenge tab to find your rank!
[1]: Vermilion Sea Institute. (2020). Stars to Sea. https://vermilionseainstitute.org/programs/fromthestarstosea/
[2]: Vermilion Sea Institute. (2020). Fisheries Support. https://vermilionseainstitute.org/programs/fisheries-support/
[3]: Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). The Problem With Plastic Bags. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html
Figure 1: Baja California Desert. (2003). Wikipedia. https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Baja_California_Desert.jpg
Figure 2: slworking2. (2018, April 15). Milky Way Over Alien Rocky Desert Landscape. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/41792500871
Figure 3: Schrauger, J. (2019). Whale shark in the Sea of Cortez.
Figure 4: WWF International. (2018, June 27). Plastic Pollution [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA9O9YUbQew
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