A Study of the Potential Impacts of LNG Development on Marine Mammals in the Gulf of California

Photo: Breaching humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean

Three liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals are proposed to be developed in the Gulf of California (GoC): Vista Pacifico LNG, American Mexican Integrated Gas Operations “Amigo” LNG Terminal, and Saguaro Energía LNG Terminal (also known as Mexico Pacific LNG). The terminals would import fossil gas from the U.S. via existing and proposed pipelines, liquefy the gas, and then export it to Asian markets using LNG tankers. These projects are backed by supply contracts extending 20 years beyond their startup dates, requiring sustained U.S.–Mexico cooperation through at least 2050—and potentially longer—to fulfill contractual obligations and secure a return on investment.

Increased tanker traffic could cause significant air and water pollution and underwater noise, threatening the region’s rich marine life, whale habitats, economy, health, and the well-being of nearby communities. These projects face growing opposition, including 300,000 signatures gathered by “Whales or Gas”, letters to the Mexican Chancellor and the Ministry of the Environment, and a letter from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) all opposing LNG development in the GoC.

To assess the potential environmental impacts of shipping LNG from these three proposed export facilities along the GoC, Equal Routes commissioned a study by Energy and Environmental Research Associates (EERA) and the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) with support from Conexiones Climáticas. The study models how projected increases in LNG tanker traffic could affect regional air quality, underwater noise levels, and marine mammal populations—particularly whales—in the GoC. It also includes an analysis of climate pollutants, such as methane (CH4​) and carbon dioxide (CO2​), that contribute to global warming. The full report is available here.