Citizen science for sharks conservation
What is it about?
Description
Since 2017, México Azul has been partnered with the shark observation tour operator Cabo Shark Dive, in order to carry out population monitoring of pelagic sharks during tourist activity in Cabo San Lucas.
Between 2017 and 2019, we conducted 550 tours with Cabo Shark Dive, which means almost 1,700 hours of sampling. During the censuses, we have observed 8 sharks species in Cabo San Lucas: short-finned mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), blue shark (Prionace glauca), dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) and scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini).
#cabo4sharks
GOALS
To Educate
Through tourism and take advantage of the tourist platform for research. Generate scientific knowledge.
To Obtain
Scientific information on pelagic sharks in Cabo San Lucas.
To Estimate
the economic income generated by shark-watching tourism in the area.
To Promote
Marine conservation tourism in Baja California Sur.
OUR RESULTS ON 2020
TOURS
SCIENTIFIC CONGRESSES
PHOTOGRAPHS
SPECIES SIGHTED
The results obtained from the study of relative abundance of pelagic sharks in Cabo San Lucas have been presented, so far, in two scientific conferences: First Latin American Congress of Sharks, Rays and Chimeras, held in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, in March from 2019; and EEA (European Elasmobranch Association) Meeting 2019, held in Rende, Italy, in October 2019.
Help us get the equipment for our field work in Los Cabos!
Do you want to be part of the project? Share your mako shark photos.
