BRINGING
BAFFIN BACK BACKGROUND Baffin Bay, located south of Corpus Christi, is one of the most isolated estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico and part of the world’s largest hypersaline lagoon. Its iconic and ancient reefs, built over thousands of years by tiny tube-dwelling worms, attract anglers from near and far. Known as the “jewel of the Texas Coast,” Baffin Bay has traditionally supported world-class fishing for spotted seatrout, redfish, and black drum. This fishery contributes over $75 million annually to the economy of surrounding communities in South Texas, but over the last three to four decades, the bay’s water quality and overall ecosystem health experienced a significant decline, threatening its fishery. Local stakeholders such as anglers, fishing guides, landowners and bay-dependent businesses have noticed these negative trends and detrimental impacts, and since 2013 have been partnering with researchers at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (HRI) as “citizen scientists” to collect water quality data that will guide efforts to reverse the decline. This data has determined that the primary cause of the decline in Baffin Bay’s health is excessive nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) pollution from the bay’s 1.5-million-acre watershed, mostly attributed to human activities.
ORANGE GROVE FREER
SAN DIEGO
ALICE DRISCOLL BISHOP
BENAVIDES
KINGSVILLE RICARDO PREMONT
RIVERA
HEBBRONVILLE FALFURRIAS
BAFFIN BAY
INITIATIVE Utilizing the unique HRI Model of integrating science with economic, policy and sociological expertise, HRI launched the Bringing Baffin Back™ initiative in 2022 in partnership with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) and the 250-member Baffin Bay Stakeholder Group (BBSG). BBSG is comprised of individuals representing scientists, citizen groups, landowners, philanthropists, policymakers, local municipalities, state officials, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. This approach is engaging stakeholders who have a vested interest in the bay and will ultimately develop solutions that address the challenges impacting the bay. The overarching goals of Bringing Baffin Back™ are to: Find solutions to the water quality problems contributing to the decline in the health of Baffin Bay Restore key watershed and bay habitat that has been lost Foster a stewardship ethos, especially among younger generations of residents Advance efforts to educate the public on the relationship between watershed and bay health Bringing Baffin Back™ integrates land, water, and wildlife management strategies in a way that provides additive multi-benefit conservation practices and promotes sustainable use.