Santa María Bay (25°00' N, 108°10' W) extends northwest–southeast along the coast of the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, approximately 100 km southwest of Los Mochis (Figure 1). One of the largest coastal wetlands in Sinaloa, it covers 1,350 km² and includes several islands and extensive mudflats. It is separated from the Gulf of California by Altamura Island, a sandbar 42 km long. At low tide, most of the bay is less than one meter deep, revealing several channels ranging from 2 to 20 meters deep. The area is highly productive, owing to its mangrove forests (Dawes 1986). Santa María Bay supports an important fish and shrimp industry (McGoodwin 1979).