Cuna del Mar-backed totoaba producer Earth Ocean Farms has released 40,000 juveniles into the wild as part of a program aimed at regenerating wild stocks.

It is the fifth consecutive year that Earth Farms, which also produces red snapper, has released juveniles into the wild.

The company released the fish with the blessing of the federal and local governments, as part of efforts to restock the Gulf of California with totoaba.

The endemic species of Mexico, was previously one of the most fished species in the Gulf of California before it began to show signs of overfishing as a result of alterations in its spawning and growing habitat.