Goals
Goals of the GWG are to promote and support the captive maintenance and breeding of endangered goodeids, to preserve goodeid habitat, and to support scientific research relevant to goodeid conservation. The GWG has two branches, one in Europe (12 countries) and the other in North America (Mexico, USA, Canada), with the North American branch (NAGWG) just formed in spring 2013.
Current Status
Funding
The NAGWG is actively raising funds to help expand the number aquarists maintaining captive populations of rare goodeids in North America, to support two large-scale conservation aquarium facilities in Mexico (in Morelia and Monterrey), and to promote on-the-ground habitat preservation and scientific research at several springs with high goodeid diversity in central Mexico.
Grants / Recipients
2019-2020
The recipient of the Award: Dr. Omar Dominguez and colleagues, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas Hidalgo (UMSNH), Morelia, Mexico
Description of the Project: Monies will be used to provide partial support for a project to re-introduce the goodeid Skiffia francesae into its former habitat, Teuchitlan Springs, Mexico. Skiffia francesae from Teuchitlan have been extinct in the wild since the mid 70’s and maintained in captivity by many NAGWG members. Following their recent success re-introducing Zoogoneticus tequila into Teuchitlan, UMSNH has the expertise and experience to tackle the re-introduction of S. francesae. NAGWG has already repatriated live S. francesae individuals to Mexico to help with this effort. NAGWG funds would help construct ponds for raising S. francesae and contribute to the environmental education program that UMSNH is running to help the people of the town of Teuchitlan to better appreciate and appropriately manage the Teuchitlan Springs.
The Amount of the Award: $4,000