Aquarium

Veracruz's impressive aquarium attracts a steady stream of tourists who come to marvel at the beauty carefully encased behind thick lucite. From spectacular reefs to Pacific seamounts, Mexico possesses a wealth of coastal resources beyond travel-brochure beaches, yet preservation efforts have rarely succeeded. Though turtle populations have recovered after the end of large scale harvesting and egg hunting operations, that is a rare success story in a country where limits on fishing are effectively nonexistent. For all the wonder the aquarium inspires, there is little hope that conservation of the country's marine riches will expand beyond spotty local efforts.