about us

RABEN is a project of the nonprofit organization Ecology and Conservation of Whales (ECOBAC). Thanks to the support of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), through the PROCER programs, a national network of RABEN teams was launched in 2012. Between 2012 and 2016, a network of 15 trained and equipped teams was successfully established along the Mexican Pacific and the Baja California Peninsula. In 2023, a new team was added to the RABEN network in San Felipe, Upper Gulf of California.

As of the 2025 season, RABEN has successfully rescued more than 100 whales of various species, primarily humpbacks, but also gray whales, fin whales, and Bryde’s whales.

The national coordination of RABEN is managed by ECOBAC, which, among other responsibilities, oversees the funding of all RABEN teams and the organization of training workshops. Every year, equipment inventories are reviewed and tools are replaced to ensure all RABEN teams are properly equipped to respond to reports in the upcoming season. Additionally, two-day training workshops are held to review entanglement response protocols and conduct at-sea drills.

Currently, we are working to improve documentation and communication in order to operate more efficiently and move toward prevention.

In 2015, we began with the first efforts focused on prevention by engaging directly with fishermen to seek collaborative solutions to the shared problem of whale entanglements, a serious issue affecting both marine life and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Three workshops were held with fishermen in Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca; Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur; and San Blas, Nayarit. Based on their input, a brochure was created to help prevent entanglements, which was distributed among fishermen along the Mexican Pacific coast and the Baja California Peninsula. An animated video was also produced in 2024.  For more information check out our information section https://rabenmexico.org/en/information/

Interactions between fishing gear and whales pose a serious threat both to marine species and to fishermen. Whale disentanglement is not a solution to the problema, it is only a temporary aid for the whales. The ideal solution is to ensure that fishing gear no longer poses a threat to whales, turtles, dolphins, and other marine life. It is also crucial to protect fishermen from losing their nets due to these accidents, as such losses not only represent significant financial setbacks but may also jeopardize an entire fishing season.

For now, we are focusing our efforts on prevention. In the meantime, we can take pride in knowing that Mexico has a well-trained and well-organized network of teams ready to respond to these incidents.

Rescuing whales, keeping the 16 RABEN teams trained and equipped, and advancing preventive measures are all costly endeavors. Your donations can make a real difference