Funding

   Apart from the US species from Nevada, which are strictly and successfully protected under US law, there are still 39 living Mexican goodeid species. No fewer than 35 of these species are endangered according to the IUCN Red List and are eligible for conservation measures. In order to better organize the existing activities in Mexico and to create an umbrella in which all projects and new ideas are incorporated, an ambitious action plan for the conservation of all goodeid species occurring in Mexico was developed: Plan G. It was the result of a workshop in Morelia, Michoacán, in October 2022, and the official launch of this conservation plan took place online one year later on October 31, 2023, with the start on November 1. The duration has been set at ten years and the special thing about Plan G is the international participation. In addition to Mexican universities, scientists and authorities, many zoos from all over the world, international non-governmental organizations involved in the conservation of freshwater fish and, through the Goodeid Working Group, many private enthusiasts from all continents are involved. As the Goodeid Working Group works closely with Plan G and the Chairman of the Goodeid Working Group is also the Chairman of Plan G, donations for goodeids are forwarded directly to one of the projects in Plan G's portfolio. However, the Goodeid Working Group cares also for Profundulids, so we support additionally the Conservation Center for Profundulus species of Oaxaca, founded by Víctor Manuel Ortíz Cruz, with the hope to include other projects in the future. 

   The folllowing lines give an impression about the current work of Plan G with the separate eight ordered according to their date of origin. Most of these project receive already some funding, but all of them are open for additional funding from an enthusiast like you. 

   1. Teuchitlán - this project focuses on the reintroduction of Zoogoneticus tequila that has successfully been executed in 2017 and the ongoing reintroduction of Skiffia francesae. The project includes restoration work along the Teuchitlán river, the construction of subterranean dams in affluents of the Presa La Vega to keep rainwater longer in the system and to provide water over a longer period to feed the springs, the involvement of the local community ("Guardianes del Río Teuchitlán", restaurant and bath owners, the local catholic church and more) and environmental education work including a nature trail. This project is being supported by the Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Düsseldorf, the Zoo Ostrava, the Eropean Union of Aquarium Curators, the Zooparc de Beauval and the Tierpark Hellabrunn München. 

   2. Zacapu Lake and La Zarcita spring - this system is characterized by inconsistency: While Zacapu Lake is a Goodeid hotspot with seven occurring species, La Zarcita spring has been stocked with exotic fish species and lost a high percentage of the native fish fauna. The goal is on the one hand to develop a Management plan for Zacapu Lake and to restore La Zarcita spring, which includes the desilting of the place with building structures and retention basins to provide further silting, the extraction of exotic fish species and the reintroduction of the missing native ones. The local community is supporting and an educational trail with complete the efforts. This project is supported by the Zoo Pilsen and the Rufford Foundation. 

   3. Camécuaro Lake - the oldest National Park of Mexico suffers from historical stocking with exotic fish species (Black bass, Tilapia, carps and sunfish) which resulted in the loss of native species within the lake and too many visitors on weekends and holidays. However, the majority of native Goodeid species survived in the springs and plans include the extraction of exotic fish species and reintroduction with native fish species as well as a management plan to create quiet zones in the park where the occurring fauna and flora finds refugia and an educational trail to teach visitors about the importance of the park and its inhabitants. This project is supported by the Eropean Union of Aquarium Curators.

   4. Lagunas - this project focuses on reintroduction of Extinct in the Wild species to the Atotonilco, San Marcos, Zacoalco and Sayula Lagoons in Jalisco, on conserving existing populations in these endorheic basins and on restoration of Goodeid habitats. Besides the ubiquitous Goodea atripinnis, it encompasses in the Sayula lagoon Ameca splendens, Skiffia francesae, "Xenotoca" cf. melanosoma and Zoogoneticus purhepechus and in the other lagoons "Xenotoca" cf. melanosoma and Zoogoneticus purhepechus. The historical occurrence of Allotoca dugesii and Skiffia multipunctata there needs to be confirmed. Actions to reintroduce Ameca splendens and Skiffia francesae have started for the Sayula lagoon, remnant populations of "Xenotoca" cf. melanosoma and Zoogoneticus purhepechus were recently found during a survey. The other lagoons are object for the coming years. This project is supported by JIMAL and the Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten Stuttgart. 

   5. Tocumbo - in this project, the type locality of Chapalichthys pardalis, since the 1970's a swimming pool, is being restored and the effluent of the spring will be improved as a habitat for this species. An educational trail will be built, including a glass pane into the creek to see the fish, and the population of this species built up. This project is supported by the Zoological Garden Halle. 

   6. Universidad Latina de América - in this project a spring, its effluent, a wetland and an artificial pond on the property of this university will be adapted for Goodeids. Several species still exist in these habitats and were recently found during a survey (Alloophorus robustus, Goodea atripinnis, Xenotoca cf. variata and Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis), others will be reintroduced (Allotoca dugesii, Neotoca bilineata and Skiffia lermae). The final goal is to create a save harbor for all Goodeid species of the endorheic Lago de Cuitzeo basin, supported by an educational trail.  

   7. Guadalajara -  this project targets mainly Skiffia multipunctata. The goal is to survey the historically known distribution area of this species and to bring it back to its type locality (a spring in a park in Guadalajara) and other springs in Guadalajara where it originally existed. This project will also bring Allotoca dugesii and Zoogoneticus purhepechus back to these habitats. This project is supported by the Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten Stuttgart. 

   8. The Banded Allotoca - this projects aims to find at least one suitable to reintroduce the Extinct in the Wild species Allotoca goslinei. The efforts include a preceding survey of its proposed historical distribution range and the adaptation of a possible habitat, the import of stocks from Europe and the establishing of at least one viable population of this species. This project is supported by the Tierpark Hellabrunn München.

   Additionally, the Fish Ark Mexico Project is undergoing some changes, so at the moment (April 2025), the aquariums which have an age of more than 25 years are being exchanged and the system of keeping Goodeids is being improved. Donations to support this project, the Conservation Center for Profundulus species of Oaxaca and Plan G projects are more than welcome and can be made 

   via PayPal to: 

   donations(at)goodeidworkinggroup.com

   via Bank transfer to: 

   Owner: Michael Köck – Goodeid Working Group, 

   IBAN: AT21 1400 0013 1009 6918

   BIC: BAWAATWW

   Bank-name and address: BAWAG, Wiedner Gürtel 11, 1100 Vienna, Austria