IT IS PROHIBITED TO CATCH OR CONSUME THIS SPECIES (WITH ONE EXCEPTION). The critically endangered totoaba fish must not be caught or consumed, except for one company, Earth Ocean Farms in the Gulf of California, which has a special permit granted by Mexico, called Unidad de Manejo Ambiental.
Also known as totuava, this fish is endemic to the northern and central Gulf of California in Mexico. In the past, before dams disrupted its migration, it could be found in the Colorado River delta. Nowadays, it is linked to the indigenous Cucupa, Seri, and Yaqui indigenous peoples.
The name totoaba is derived from two Yaqui words: totoli, meaning bird, and buaua, meaning insatiable eater. Totoaba started to be sold in northern Mexico around 1910, and by 1970, it was massively exploited (due to habitat desctruction and overfishing) and exported to China and the United States.
The fish feed on shrimps and smaller fish and live up to 19 years. The meat is highly prized due to its unique texture and flavor. During the festivals of Seri indigenous peoples, totoaba is caught, set aside on a bed of sticks, then slowly roasted over an open fire, while the juices are poured into it.
