Baja California Coast Research Articles

Hildenbrandia ardreae sp. nov. (Rhodophyta), recorded before as Hildenbrandia dawsonii (nom. inval.)

Four species of the red algal genus Hildenbrandia have been recorded from Pacific Mexico: H. dawsonii reported on the west coast of Baja California and Jalisco; H. occidentalis with one record from the west coast of Baja California; H. prototypus occurring all along the coast, including the Gulf of California; and the most common and abundant species, H. rubra from Pacific Baja California to Oaxaca, in tropical Pacific Mexico. All four species have been studied morphologically and molecularly using representative specimens. The molecular status regarding the phylogenetic position of H. dawsonii in relation to other species is unclear. H. dawsonii nomenclatural status was analyzed, and additional material from the University Herbaria at UC-Berkekley (UC) was reviewed. Hildenbrandia dawsonii is an invalid name because its alleged basionym (Hildenbrandia canariensis var. dawsonii) is invalid. Therefore, a new species is described: Hildenbrandia ardreae sp. nov., selecting a Dawson specimen from Punta Norte, Cedros Island, Baja California, as the holotype. Furthermore, morphological characters, once used as diagnostic at the species level, are considered irrelevant. The new holotype proposed in this study shows the same characteristics stated by F. Ardré in her original publication (1959) and could be a potential source for DNA extraction for comparative studies.

Dispersal limits poleward expansion of mangroves on the west coast of North America

While much attention has been paid to the climatic controls of species' range limits, other factors such as dispersal limitation are also important. Temperature is an important control of the distribution of coastal mangrove forests, and mangrove expansion at multiple poleward range limits has been linked to increasing temperatures. However, mangrove abundances at other poleward range limits have been surprisingly insensitive to climate change, indicating other drivers of range limitation. For example, along the west coast of North America, the poleward mangrove range limits are found on the Baja California and mainland coasts of Mexico, between 26°48ʹ and 30°18ʹN. Non‐climatic factors may play an important role in setting these range limits as 1) the abundance of range limit populations has been relatively insensitive to climate variability and 2) an introduced population of mangroves has persisted hundreds of kilometers north of the natural range limits. We combined a species distribution model with a high‐resolution oceanographic transport model to identify the roles of climate and dispersal limitation in controlling mangrove distributions. We identified estuarine habitat that is likely climatically suitable for mangroves north of the current range limits. However, propagules from current mangrove populations are unlikely to reach these suitable locations due to prevailing ocean currents and geomorphic factors that create a patchy distribution of estuarine habitat with large between‐patch distances. Thus, although climate change is driving range shifts of mangroves in multiple regions around the world, dispersal is currently limiting poleward mangrove expansion at several range limits, including the west coast of North America.

Wave energy converter farm feasibility assessment in southwest Baja California, Mexico

This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a wave energy converter (WEC) farm on the southwest coast of Baja California, Mexico. The aim is to determine the theoretical installed capacity and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for a WEC farm, unlike most previous efforts that were limited to a single device. The availability of wave energy has been assessed using 40 years of wave data. The electrical power generation potential of the Archimedes Wave Swing and Wave Dragon devices was estimated using their power matrices. For the calculation of levelized cost of energy, the capital expenditure includes equity, debt, taxes, and the present value of the power generation over the project's lifespan. The results indicate that the Archimedes Wave Swing farms offer the most favourable pricing for end users, despite the Wave Dragon farms having a larger installed capacity. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for five variables, which revealed that site selection has the greatest impact on LCOE.

Trace Metals in the Mussel Mytilus californianus from the West Coast of Baja California, Mexico.

This study assessed the concentrations of trace metals in tissues of Mytilus californianus from the west coast of Baja California, Mexico, during the cold and warm seasons. The concentrations of silver, cadmium, copper and zinc in mussel tissues were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Silver concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.48µg/g dry weight (d.w.) with significantly higher values registered at sites close to densely populated areas. Cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations ranged from 0.57 to 7.83µg/g d.w., 3.71 to 621µg/g d.w., and 57.54 to 124.55µg/g d.w., respectively. According to the WHO, values of copper and zinc were within acceptable limits. The maximum values of cadmium, however, exceeded the recommended limits set by the European Commission (2014). The human health risk of the metals analyzed was low (THQ and HI < 1). The regular monitoring of trace metals in M. californianus is recommended for a more definitive evaluation of contaminants.

The Remains of a Manila Galleon Compass: 16th-Century Nautical Material Culture

This article reveals the recovery of a compass balance from a Manila galleon that was wrecked in the 16th century off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, and discusses the possibility that it was made in Spain. Based on an analysis of navigation treaties, written in the context of the training of pilots by the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade), it is revealed in detail how nautical compasses were manufactured in Spain during that period. As a result of the review of the nautical literature of that century, it is concluded that the compass was the most important nautical instrument on board and that its simple design allowed any malfunction to be resolved during the journey. In addition, the authors affirm that the design of this compass was very similar to those suggested in the European navigation traditions of the 16th century, and thus, it seems quite possible that the compass rocker found in Baja California was made in the Hispanic world.

A new species of Nama (Namaceae) from the Vizcaino Desert, Mexico

Background: Although most of the Nama taxa grow on sandy substrates, none of them is restricted to the coastal dune environment. A small population of a unique looking taxon was found on the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, which is here presented as a new species.&#x0D; Question and/or Hypothesis: In the morphological analysis in the individuals of a putative new taxon, some peculiarities stand out, such as a suffruticose herbaceous perennial growth form with erect and compact branching, featuring a small cushion, unlike the rest of the known species, which are rather procumbent, or erect in form. It also has revolute leaf margins in the blade.&#x0D; Studied Species: Nama asuncionensis sp. nov. (Namaceae) and morphologically similar species. &#x0D; Study Site: Central Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico.&#x0D; Method: Through bibliographic consultation, review of herbarium specimens, and photographs, a comparative morphological analysis was carried out with other Nama species of the peninsula and mainland Mexico.&#x0D; Results: Based on the comparative analyses, Nama asuncionensis is here presented and illustrated as a new species.&#x0D; Conclusions: Nama asuncionensis is a micro-endemic species restricted to the Pacific coastal environment of the peninsula. We propose that this new taxon be included in the Eunama section of the genus based on its morphological characteristics, including a membranous loculicidal dehiscent capsule, free styles, and sepals divided to the base. This taxon seems to be limited to a narrow coastal strip, with high relative humidity, where it develops its fresh leaves and flowers during the mild season.

Empirical evidence of temperature variability as a concurrent limiting factor for abalone distribution

Understanding how the performance, fitness, and distribution of species are impacted by changes in temperature is crucial for forecasting the ecological effects of climate change. Increasing mean sea surface temperature may alter the distribution of abalone species in the northeastern Pacific, although no apparent pattern has yet emerged. Ecophysiological observations (energy budget and the temperature performance curve based on scope for growth), satellite-derived daily sea surface temperature data, and observations of the population density distribution of wild abalones were integrated. The highest temperature-dependent scope for growth (physiological optimum) was discovered between 20.5 and 28.5 °C, peaking at 24 °C, with the upper thermal limit about 30 °C. Off the west coast of Baja California, the distribution of abalone appears to be dictated by the tradeoff between a mean temperature close to the physiological optimum and exposure to a highly variable environment (i.e., more stress and the risk of reaching suboptimal and lethal warm temperatures at the daily scale). The findings suggest that future models of the distribution of marine species in relation to thermal habitat should contain time-domain variability in addition to spatial-domain variability.

Identification of Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity Fronts along the California Coast: Application Using Saildrone and Satellite Derived Products

Coastal upwelling regions are one of the most dynamic areas of the world’s oceans. The California and Baja California Coasts are impacted by both coastal upwelling and the California Current, leading to frontal activity that is captured by gradients in both Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Sea Surface Salinity (SSS). Satellite data are a great source of spatial data to study fronts. However, biases near coastal areas and coarse resolutions can impair its usefulness in upwelling areas. In this work gradients in SST from NASA Multi-Scale Ultra-High Resolution (MUR) and in two SSS products derived from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) NASA mission are compared directly with gradients derived from the Saildrone uncrewed vehicles to validate the gradients as well as to assess their ability to detect known frontal features. The three remotely sensed data sets (MURSST/JPL, SMAP SSS/RSS, SMAP SSS) were co-located with the Saildrone data prior to the calculation of the gradients. Wavelet analysis is used to determine how well the satellite derived SST and SSS products are reproducing the Saildrone derived gradients. Overall results indicate the remote sensing products are reproducing features of known areas of coastal upwelling. Differences between the SST and SSS gradients are mainly associated with the limitations of the microwave derived SSS coverage near land and its reduced spatial resolution. The results are promising for using remote sensing data sets to monitor frontal structure along the California Coast and the application to long term changes in coastal upwelling and dynamics.

Citizen Science on the Beach: Grunion Greeters in California

AbstractCitizen scientist “Grunion Greeters” have proven to be effective monitors for beach‐spawning runs of the California Grunion Leuresthes tenuis, for nearly two decades. This marine fish fully emerges from water to spawn on sandy beaches on the Pacific coast of California and Baja California. This spectacular display provides a rare nonconsumptive experience for the public with a wild fish. This native, endemic species rarely appears in trawls and does not take a hook, so population status is not possible to obtain by traditional fishery methods. In a unique recreational fishery, people capture these fish with bare hands on the sand, but no catch report is required. Volunteer Grunion Greeters provide hyperlocal, detailed data that can be obtained no other way. Methods, lessons learned, and use of the data in management are explained. The Grunion Greeters discovered that California Grunion recently made a northward range extension, but are declining broadly across the core habitat. Active monitoring by citizen scientists has brought renewed attention to this charismatic, vulnerable fish, along with its first long‐term data set and policies to increase protections.

Generation of Continental Lithospheric Mantle by Tectonic Isolation of Oceanic Plate

AbstractContinental formation models invoke subduction or plume‐related processes to create the buoyant, refractory character of continental lithospheric mantle (CLM). From similarities in melt depletion, major element composition, modal clinopyroxene, and Os isotope systematics it has been proposed that oceanic mantle lithosphere is the likely protolith to non‐cratonic CLM, however, a direct link between the two has been difficult to ascertain. Using dredged mantle peridotite xenoliths from the Ferrel Seamount, off the west coast of Baja California, Mexico, we show that tectonic isolation of an oceanic plate may lead to formation of non‐cratonic CLM. Ferrel xenoliths are coarse‐grained spinel lherzolite, or rare harzburgite. Bulk‐rock and clinopyroxene trace element compositions reveal two‐stages of melt refertilization following melt depletion, with infiltration by mid‐ocean ridge basalt‐type melts, followed by melt addition from host alkali basalt. Melt depletion correlations with 187Os/188Os and highly siderophile element abundances indicate preserved melt depletion and refertilization processes are ancient. From these observations, the Ferrel xenoliths represent lithosphere from the abandoned Pacific‐Farallon ridge. The history of melt depletion, followed by MORB‐melt refertilization is consistent with the peridotites representing oceanic mantle lithosphere that was subsequently incorporated into the Baja‐Guadalupe microplate during “ridge jump.” These peridotites demonstrate that isolation of oceanic lithosphere that is rafted onto a continental margin provides a viable means for producing non‐cratonic CLM. We suggest that continuation of late‐stage, low degree melt refertilization may provide a link between oceanic lithosphere and non‐cratonic CLM and propose a tectonic model to preserve and facilitate this continued evolution.

Marine heatwaves facilitate invasive algae takeover as foundational kelp

Abstract Extreme warming events have diminished kelp ecosystems around the world, but few reports exist about their impacts on invasive species. Warming events along the coast of Baja California from 2014 to 2016 negatively affected kelp forest communities historically dominated by Macrocystis pyrifera. We measured changes in the macroalgal community at Todos Santos Islands, Baja California, Mexico between 2018 and 2019. Our results documented a dramatic reduction of M. pyrifera, and a concurrent structural shift to invasive kelps dominance, with Sargassum horneri and Undaria pinnatifida being highly abundant in 2019. This study provides insights about impacts of invasive kelp species on macroalgal community structure under future climate scenarios.

Eisenia arborea (Areschoung) domestication and mariculture development on the Pacific coast of Baja California, México

Eisenia arborea (sensu Ecklonia arborea) is the kelp with the greatest latitudinal distribution on the Northeastern Pacific Coast. It is harvested in Mexico in small amounts for abalone farm fodder and occasionally exported to Asia for human consumption. Because the high-energy environment where it naturally grows limits its sustainable harvest, we explored the domestication and cultivation of this kelp on the west coast of Baja California, Mexico. The life history of E. arborea was completed in the laboratory following traditional methods for kelp cultivation. Gametophytes became reproductive approximately 50 days after spore release and sporophytes were visible to the naked eye after 80 days. When sporophytes reached 2–3 cm, they were transplanted to two sites on long-line systems: in an open bay (Todos Santos Bay) and in a shallow coastal lagoon (San Quintín Bay). At both sites, full differentiation occurred 6 to 8 months after deployment, with fertile blades occurring within a year. Once individuals reached maximum size, blades were harvested by pruning. Monthly, regrowth of pruned blades and new blade addition were measured. Pruned individuals reached the same weight as controls in three months. On the basis of these results, a seasonal seeding program was implemented at a third site where the presence of natural Eisenia is rare due to the lack of hard substrate but was hypothesized to provide appropriate conditions for kelp cultivation (Santa María Bay). Cultures were deployed at three different depths and growth was correlated with season, depth, and temperature. Only cultures seeded in winter developed successfully at this site. This study shows that the culture of E. arborea in a variety of ocean conditions is possible; however, site selection and seasonality are important considerations. Because E. arborea is perennial, it can be harvested periodically during the year thereby increasing yield, and because it is the warmest tolerant kelp species, it is an ideal target for ocean farming and commercial cultivation, considering climate change.

Metabolic rates in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon during the 2020 Southern California red tide event

A standing time series from autonomous sensors (pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature) in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad, CA, captured the effects of a massive red tide occurring along the Southern and Baja California coast during the spring of 2020. Biogeochemical data (pH and dissolved oxygen) were examined using an open-source weighted regression model designed to filter out the influence of tides and estimate net ecosystem metabolism. Contemporaneous pH and dissolved oxygen observations allowed simultaneous, independent evaluations of production, respiration, and net ecosystem metabolism. Under normal conditions, the Agua Hedionda Lagoon tends toward net heterotrophy, averaging 10 mmol C m–2 d–1. During a 2-month period, centered around the peak of the event, trophic status in the lagoon shifted multiple times between net heterotrophic and net autotrophic, with a pronounced period of anoxia. Fueled by the intense local bloom, at its peak, respiration reached rates of 140 mmol C m–2d–1. We found that the co-location of pH and oxygen sensors affords independent assessment of metabolic rates, which often agree, as expected under baseline (oxic) conditions, but diverge during an extreme event. This observation allowed us to identify non-Redfieldian behavior and speculate on the source of anoxic reactions. Similar to many coastal environments, the Agua Hedionda Lagoon serves a multitude of functions (including a natural habitat for hundreds of marine and avian species, and several commercial and recreational activities), which makes characterizing the dominant mechanisms controlling the ecosystem state (such as metabolic rate) of great interest to scientists, stakeholders, decision-makers, and regulators alike.

Influence of Kelp Forest Biomass on Nearshore Currents

AbstractAs part of a project focused on the coastal fisheries of Isla Natividad, an island on the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, we conducted a 2‐1/2 year study of flows at two sites within the island's kelp forests. At one site (Punta Prieta), currents are tidal, whereas at the other site (Morro Prieto), currents are weaker and may be more strongly influenced by wind forcing. Satellite estimates of the biomass of the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) for this period varied between 0 (no kelp) and 3 kg/m2 (dense kelp forest), including a period in which kelp entirely was absent as a result of the 2014–2015 “Warm Blob” in the Eastern Pacific. During this natural “deforestation experiment”, alongshore velocities at both sites when kelp was present were substantially weaker than when kelp was absent, with low‐frequency alongshore currents attenuated more than higher frequency ones, behavior that was the same at both sites despite differences in forcing. The attenuation of cross‐shore flows by kelp was less than alongshore flows; thus, residence times for water inside the kelp forest, which are primarily determined by cross‐shore velocities, were only weakly affected by the presence or absence of kelp. The flow changes we observed in response to changes in kelp density are important to the biogeochemical functioning of the kelp forest in that slower flows imply longer residence times, and, are also ecologically relevant in that reduced tidal excursions may lead to more localized recruitment of planktonic larvae.

Dynamic Habitat Models Reflect Interannual Movement of Cetaceans Within the California Current Ecosystem

The distribution of wide-ranging cetacean species often cross national or jurisdictional boundaries, which creates challenges for monitoring populations and managing anthropogenic impacts, especially if data are only available for a portion of the species’ range. Many species found off the U.S. West Coast are known to have continuous distributions into Mexican waters, with highly variable abundance within the U.S. portion of their range. This has contributed to annual variability in design-based abundance estimates from systematic shipboard surveys off the U.S. West Coast, particularly for the abundance of warm temperate species such as striped dolphin,Stenella coeruleoalba, which increases off California during warm-water conditions and decreases during cool-water conditions. Species distribution models (SDMs) can accurately describe shifts in cetacean distribution caused by changing environmental conditions, and are increasingly used for marine species management. However, until recently, data from waters off the Baja California peninsula, México, have not been available for modeling species ranges that span from Baja California to the U.S. West Coast. In this study, we combined data from 1992–2018 shipboard surveys to develop SDMs off the Pacific Coast of Baja California for ten taxonomically diverse cetaceans. We used a Generalized Additive Modeling framework to develop SDMs based on line-transect surveys and dynamic habitat variables from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Models were developed for ten species: long- and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis delphis and D. d. bairdii), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), striped dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whale (B. physalus), and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The SDMs provide the first fine-scale (approximately 9 x 9 km grid) estimates of average species density and abundance, including spatially-explicit measures of uncertainty, for waters off the Baja California peninsula. Results provide novel insights into cetacean ecology in this region as well as quantitative spatial data for the assessment and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts.

New Assessment of Wave Energy in Relation to Geomorphological and Demographic Characteristics on the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico

The electrical grid of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, operates separately from the National Interconnected System, with Baja California connected to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the USA; and Baja California Sur having an isolated, independent network. Based on the need for alternative renewable sources of electricity generation in the region, this work evaluates the wave energy power at specific locations on the Pacific coast of the peninsula, and identifies wave generation sites (WEGS). The WEGS were defined as rocky shore sites associated with a wave energy potential of over 10 kW/m (where the installation of oscillating water columns (OWC) is feasible) and the presence of coastal settlements that are less than 10 km from the shoreline. It was found that 370 km of the Pacific coast of the peninsula have characteristics suitable for the installation of OWC, and up to 1.4 million inhabitants could be benefited by this wave energy harvesting.

Morphological response of an embayed beach to swell-driven storminess cycles over an 8-year period

This study contributes to the understanding of the extent at which antecedent hydrodynamic and morphological conditions affect post-storm morphology in response to individual storms and storm clusters. Nearshore wave measurements and concurrent fortnightly to monthly topographies from 2012 to 2020 were used to determine the morphological response of a swell-dominated beach in the Pacific coast of NW Baja California to different storm types. The beach attained an almost nil volumetric balance over the eight-year period, but significant variations existed related to storm incidence. Higher storminess occurred during El Niño years and lower or absence of storminess during years of La Niña phase. The integral wave characteristics of the analyzed swell-dominated storms did not conclusively explain subaerial volume variations. Dissipative morphodynamic conditions prevailed during the analyzed storm events (Ω of 6 to 8) and the wave steepness presented relatively small variations (0.006 to 0.015). The beach quickly reached a storm equilibrium state, preventing subsequent adjustment when further storms in the sequence acted. Moreover, consecutive storms to highly-erosive events caused subaerial beach accretion when low pre-storm volumes (< 50 m3m−1 than average) and mild lower intertidal slopes (tanβ > 0.03) existed. It is concluded that the erosive potential of the swell-driven storms primarily depended on the antecedent sediment availability and near-shoreline slope.

Variability of hydrographic factors, biomass and structure of the phytoplankton community at the entrance to the Gulf of California (spring 2013)

This study reports observations of the horizontal and vertical variation of chlorophyll a (Chla) and the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton at the entrance to the Gulf of California (GC) and its relationship with physicochemical processes. This region is part of the northern boundary of one of the largest shallow Oxygen Minimum Zones in the world, characterized by marked physicochemical gradients. Therefore, understanding the prevailing seasonal patterns and their relationship with primary producers is considered particularly relevant. The study period, April 2013, was characterized by mesoscale eddies and fronts associated with several water masses (California Current Water - CCW, Gulf of California Water - GCW, and Subtropical Subsurface Water - StSsW), which influenced the horizontal and vertical distribution of Chla between 0 and 150 m. Superficial southward flow of CCW was observed near the west coast of Baja California, turning toward the GC flowing between 30 and 60 m depth. At the entrance to the GC, the currents circulated anticyclonically, flowing into the GC near Baja California, while GCW flowed out of the GC near the mainland coast. The vertical distribution of Chla featured a subsurface maximum layer (SCML) associated with the 25 kg m-3 isopycnal, highlighting the importance of stratification processes as drivers of the vertical distribution of phytoplankton biomass. In turn, this favored different associations of phytoplankton groups. In surface waters, the phytoplankton community was dominated by picocyanobacteria (Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus) and Prymnesiophytes, while at the SCML, Prymnesiophytes coexist mainly with Prasinophytes, Chrysophytes, and Cryptophytes. The prevalence of these flagellates (and the absence of autotrophic dinoflagellates) suggests the importance of a multivorous food web in this region, typical of environments where carbon recycling predominates in the pelagic zone. Diatoms made no significant contribution to Chla, although their abundance increased in the SCML associated with the influence of the CCW. The low N:P (8.3) and Si:N (0.86) ratios indicate that nitrates and silica are potentially limiting nutrients for the development of this group.

Impacts of a Non-indigenous Ecosystem Engineer, the American Beaver (Castor canadensis), in a Biodiversity Hotspot

Non-native species having high per capita impacts in invaded communities are those that modulate resource availability and alter disturbance regimes in ways that are biologically incompatible with the native biota. In areas where it has been introduced by humans, American beaver (Castor canadensis) is an iconic example of such species due to its capacity to alter trophic dynamics of entire ecosystems and create new invasional pathways for other non-native species. The species is problematic in several watersheds within the Southern California-Northern Baja California Coast Ecoregion, a recognized hotspot of biodiversity, due to its ability to modify habitat in ways that favor invasive predators and competitors over the region's native species and habitat. Beaver was deliberately introduced across California in the mid-1900s and generally accepted as non-native to the region up to the early 2000s; however, articles promoting the idea that beaver may be a natural resident have gained traction in recent years, due in large part to the species' charismatic nature rather than by presentation of sound evidence. Here, we discuss the problems associated with beaver disturbance and its effects on conserving the region's native fauna and flora. We refute arguments underlying the claim that beaver is native to the region, and review paleontological, zooarchaeological, and historical survey data from renowned field biologists and naturalists over the past ~160 years to show that no evidence exists that beaver arrived by any means other than deliberate human introduction. Managing this ecosystem engineer has potential to reduce the richness and abundance of other non-native species because the novel, engineered habitat now supporting these species would diminish in beaver-occupied watersheds. At the same time, hydrologic functionality would shift toward more natural, ephemeral conditions that favor the regions' native species while suppressing the dominance of the most insidious invaders.

Wave Energy Resource Harnessing Assessment in a Subtropical Coastal Region of the Pacific

Most wave energy converters (WECs) are designed to operate in high-latitude energetic seas, limiting their performance in regions usually dominated by milder conditions. The present study assesses the performance of complete test-stage WECs in farms that satisfy a decentralized energy scheme (DES) on the coast of Baja California, which is considered one of the most energetic regions along the Mexican Pacific. A high-resolution 11-year nearshore wave hindcast was performed and validated with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) data to characterize the wave energy resource in the study area. Two hotspots were identified from the wave power climatology. In these sites, the extractive capacities of seven well-known WEC technologies were determined based on their power matrices. Finally, the power extracted by small WEC farms, with the minimum number of devices required to satisfy a DES, was estimated. The studied region has moderate wave power availability with marked seasonality and low inter-annual variability. Out of all the evaluated devices, WaveDragon extracts the highest wave power; however, Pelamis has the best performance, with maximum monthly mean capacity factors up to 40%. Coupling WEC farms with storage modules or hybrid renewable systems are recommended to satisfy a continuous DES during the less energetic summer months.