If a picture is worth a thousand words, photographer Mónica Cárdenas has crafted a visual dissertation on the fragile state of life in Lake Chapala’s waters.
“Beings that Inhabit Lake Chapala,” her collection of fish portraits now on display at the Ajijic plaza’s GALA open-air gallery, speaks volumes about the existential threats against endemic species.
Cárdenas explains her artistic purpose and intended message: “It is very important to share these photographs, which arise from a deep concern and worry about the situation of beings that inhabit Lake Chapala.”
She continues: “Lake Chapala has a vital ecosystem that harbors a rich biodiversity and species found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, this precious ecosystem faces serious environmental problems. One of the most recent and troubling threats is the introduction of the black bass, a predator of all species living in our lake. It was introduced only for the purpose of promoting sport fishing. However, it has a negative impact by competing with native species for food and habitat, and preying on smaller fish. If no action is taken, the presence of black bass could lead to the extinction of all native species within five years.”
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