February 18, 2026 — Environmental experts are sounding the alarm about proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, warning that industrialization could severely damage one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine environments. The opinion article published on Phys.org argues that fossil fuel development is incompatible with long-standing conservation commitments and global climate goals.
The Gulf of California is renowned for extraordinary biodiversity — hosting approximately 39 % of all marine mammal species, eight species of great whales (including endangered blue and fin whales), 891 species of fish (such as endangered whale sharks), and five of eight species of sea turtles (including the massive endangered leatherback). Its islands and protected zones were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and it has been recognized as a Biosphere Reserve and Migratory Bird Refuge for decades.
Despite these protections, critics say companies like Sempra Energy are advancing major LNG export projects along the gulf’s eastern shore. The flagship proposal, Vista Pacifico LNG, would include a floating liquefaction unit with annual output of about 5 million tons (200 billion cubic feet of natural gas), storage tanks, jetties, and pipelines carrying fuel sourced from gas fields in the U.S. Permian Basin. It is intended to boost exports to markets in Asia, a move that environmentalists claim contradicts the company’s public pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity.
Opposition to the LNG plans has escalated globally; at a recent meeting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, conservation experts urged both the U.S. and Mexico to halt industrial LNG development in the region to safeguard ecosystems and Indigenous communities. Critics argue the combined footprint of proposed LNG terminals would increase greenhouse gas emissions, worsen air pollution, and threaten clean water and marine habitat integrity.
Scientific studies also highlight broader threats posed by LNG shipping. Massive LNG carriers transiting the gulf — some as long as three football fields — could elevate ambient underwater noise levels, disrupt communication and feeding behaviors of marine mammals, and increase ship strikes that imperil endangered species. Local fishing industries and coastal communities could face economic losses due to habitat degradation and changes in fish populations.
Proponents of the LNG projects argue they could bring economic growth and energy export opportunities. However, environmental advocates contend that the long-term ecological costs and contribution to ongoing fossil fuel dependence and climate change outweigh any short-term economic gains. They are urging companies involved to reconsider and align actions with stated conservation commitments.
