Mutual Funds Join Fight to Protect Whale Refuge

MEXICO CITY — The managers of 15 U.S. mutual funds said they oppose Mitsubishi Co.’s plans to build a new salt factory on a Mexican lagoon used by gray whales for birthing. The funds acknowledged they don’t own any Mitsubishi stock.

The area where Mitsubishi operates the world’s largest salt evaporation plant in conjunction with the Mexican government--and where they are planning another $150-million plant--is also Latin America’s largest biosphere reserve and the winter refuge of the gray whale. A Mitsubishi official said the plans are compatible with the environment.