reaching out to Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. By the early 1980s the shrimping industry of Puerto Peasco accounted for over 80% of the town’s economy. Even fleets from as far away as Japan and Korea were coming to Rocky Point to shrimp. And this ended up attributing to the downfall of Rocky Point’s shrimp industry.The foreign trawlers were using long drag nets and GPS systems that allowed them to systematically wipe out shrimp populations in the areas they were fishing. This combined with the popularity of the area with the local fishermen, in five years the fishery in the area was almost completely obliterated. The government had had enough, in 1994 the northern part of the Sea of Cortez was declared to be an International Biosphere Reserve by the Mexican government. Commercial fishing was deemed illegal north of Rocky Point. This was disastrous for Rocky Point’s fishing industry, it limited the area that could be fished greatly, and more than half the fleet was sold to operations further south. In 1989 fishing accounted for 80% of Rocky Point’s economy and today, after the I.B.R. was created, less than 50% can be attributed to fishing. Tourism is now the bread winner for Rocky Point, bringing in the majority of local income.Only 60 miles south of the border Rocky Point, for many Americans, is the closest and most easily accessible beachfront tropical paradise. Easily reached by automobile, Rocky Point has become known as Arizona’s secret beach. Whether the local “Rocoportenses” know it or not their tiny fishing town is becoming a special kind of getaway town that caters to a wide variety of vacationers.Phoenix and Tucson retirees fill trailer parks with their luxury motor homes and occupy time shares year-round in Rocky Point. They come for the beautiful days and the quiet, relaxing nights. Puerto Peasco has also become quite a nice place to take the...
