Shark Sanctuary Transition, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
We will create a shark sanctuary for multiple species of sharks in Isla Mujeres, Mexico and will be working very closely with the local community to transition from destructive fishing practices to sustainable ecotourism. This is a win/win situation, and a viable model for success that can be replicated in other prime sites around the world.
Challenge
Isla Mujeres is a world-renowned site for whale sharks, and has been built as a very successful ecotourism hub. The issue is, that behind this curtain of shark conservation, every other species of shark is still being exploited and indiscriminately fished from these waters. These other species, including hammerheads, tigers, bulls, silkys, nurses, Caribbean reefs and others, are all threatened or endangered.
Solution
Isla Mujeres has the infrastructure, and would be a prime preservation site to transition the shark fishing community from hunters to protectors, in making the sharks worth more alive to them than they are dead. We will work closely with our on-the-ground partners and local fishers to find & establish specific shark dive sites. The local community is willing and engaged to properly make the transition to operating snorkel and dive tourism businesses that will allow them to generate more income.
Long-Term Impact
Some of the local families are three generations deep into shark fishing, however they have been very clear in telling us that they are looking for a different & more sustainable way to earn income. They have witnessed, firsthand, the drastic decline in their local shark populations that is making their work as fishermen increasingly challenging, and less profitable. They are ready to get the blood off of their hands.
Isla Mujeres is a world-renowned site for whale sharks, and has been built as a very successful ecotourism hub. The issue is, that behind this curtain of shark conservation, every other species of shark is still being exploited and indiscriminately fished from these waters. These other species, including hammerheads, tigers, bulls, silkys, nurses, Caribbean reefs and others, are all threatened or endangered.
Solution
Isla Mujeres has the infrastructure, and would be a prime preservation site to transition the shark fishing community from hunters to protectors, in making the sharks worth more alive to them than they are dead. We will work closely with our on-the-ground partners and local fishers to find & establish specific shark dive sites. The local community is willing and engaged to properly make the transition to operating snorkel and dive tourism businesses that will allow them to generate more income.
Long-Term Impact
Some of the local families are three generations deep into shark fishing, however they have been very clear in telling us that they are looking for a different & more sustainable way to earn income. They have witnessed, firsthand, the drastic decline in their local shark populations that is making their work as fishermen increasingly challenging, and less profitable. They are ready to get the blood off of their hands.