WOW! Another year has passed and we have much to be thankful for at Saving Our Sharks AC.
Although 2012 brought us many trials and tribulations we can be thankful that over the last year more people have joined our cause and most importantly our research project to study the bull sharks in the Mexican Caribbean has really taken off.
With the assistance of caring donors, dedicated scientists and passionate sponsors we were able to operate two fieldwork sessions during the year. In total, approximately 45 days of fieldwork were spent over two trips to the Mayan Riviera and Costa Maya areas of Quintana Roo, Mexico during Feb/Mar and Nov/Dec, 2012.
Unfortunately, our target study group was impacted directly by fishing pressures during both fieldwork sessions; therefore, we were only able to perform limited research. We did however identify and begin to study an alternate population of bull sharks in an undisclosed location and have added this location as a target for our research. More details on this discovery and our recent fieldwork sessions will follow in a future post.
One of the highlights of the Nov/Dec session was the replacement of a receiver at Banco Chinchorro near Mahahual in the Costa Maya. Located 20 nautical miles offshore on the Meso-American Reef this magical place is only inhabited by transient fishermen, government park officials, and researchers doing fieldwork.
Many thanks to Maria del Carmen Garcia, Director of the Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve Marine Park for graciously hosting us overnight at the Field Station after our day of diving.
Other highlights from the November/December 2012 session included:
- Placement of 4 additional acoustic telemetry transmitters
- Retrieval and data collection from acoustic receiver stations
- New animal sightings & observations (new shark population discovered)
- Ongoing discussions with government agents, dive tourism agencies and fishing collectives
Muchas Gracias a todos! Thanks to all!
To get this far in such a short time would not have been possible without the outstanding support received from the following Mexican Government Agencies:
- SAGARPA (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Rural fishing and Feeding) www.sagarpa.gob.mx/Paginas/default.aspx
- SEMARNAT (Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources) www.semarnat.gob.mx/Pages/Inicio.aspx
- CONANP (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas - Environment and Natural Resources) www.conanp.gob.mx/index.php
- CONAPESCA (National Committee on fisheries) www.conapesca.sagarpa.gob.mx/wb/
- SECTUR (Secretary of Tourism) www.sectur.gob.mx/es/sectur/
Our sincere thanks and appreciation also goes out to the owners and staff at Solo Buceo (Cancun) and Phantom Divers (PDC), who both have provided us assistance with logistics and dive operations during our time in the Mayan Riviera. Their support has been instrumental in allowing us to complete our fieldwork. Also joining our team this session were students from National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Florida International University (FIU), along with research & dive support from Nathan Harben, Olmo Torres-Talamante & Russell Hennessey.
About our team: We are honored to have Dr. Jaime Gonzalez Cano, Dr. Mauricio Hoyos Padilla and Aleksandra Maljković, PhD Candidate as our principal scientists and advisors. Their collective experience and expertise is integral to the success of achieving our project´s mission to: “Design evidence based conservation strategies for the bull shark in the Mayan Riviera”.
Our hardworking scientists are responsible for driving proper scientific process and procedures. In addition, they are responsible for the dissemination of our work to the appropriate education, scientific, conservation and government agencies. Their contribution is extremely important as our project will be essential in beginning to understand the lifecycle and habitat requirements of the bull shark in the Mexican Caribbean. Additionally, the data we are collecting is being used to assist the Mexican Government to determine appropriate steps to preserve the bull shark while integrating key stakeholder beliefs in order to achieve a mutually beneficial conservation program.
Unfortunately, all is not well for the bull sharks. There continues to be heavy fishing pressure in the Puerto Morelos & Playa del Carmen area, particularly targeted species include the bull sharks. Over the first three weeks of the dive tourism season; in November 2012, over 20 animals were taken. It is not clear whether this was a legal fishing operation, though investigations are ongoing.
Nonetheless, the damage done was very significant given our understanding of the estimates for local shark populations, which have not exceeded 25 animals since observations began in 2008.
While we will continue to tirelessly fight for protection for the sharks at all levels, our goals cannot be met without your support. The sharks need you now more than ever. Research is crucial in our goals to actively pursue legal means to protect the sharks and this takes significant financial resources, ones that we don’t have. That is why we need your help.
Please DONATE to our cause to help us to understand and protect Bull sharks in the State of Quintana Roo in the Mexican Caribbean.
Saving Our Sharks is Saving Our Selves!
For more information please see our solcai media sites:
For videos of our work please see the following:
For photos of our work please see the following:
NOTE: All scientific work was done under the following permits issued by SAGARPA.
Building No. DGOPA.08050.051011 fishing permit with Folio No. 2865 issued by the Secretariat of agriculture, livestock, Rural Development, fishing and food (SAGARPA) through the National Fisheries Commission, with date of October 14, 2011 and effect to October 13, 2012.
Building No. DGOPA.15228.151112.3608 fishing permit with Folio No. 3608 issued by the Secretariat of agriculture, livestock, Rural Development, fishing and food (SAGARPA) through the National Fisheries Commission, with day, November 16, 2012 date and validity to the 24 November 2013.
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