New Catalogue Boosts Shark Conservation in Mexican Caribbean! 🦈🌊

A new catalogue for identifying shark species has been launched in the Mexican Caribbean. The aim is to gather information on the types of sharks that breed in the region, in order to enhance their conservation efforts.

Cecilia Gutiérrez Navarro, a shark conservation specialist, explained that the catalogue is designed to be a community resource. It contains images and information about bull sharks, with the goal of establishing a foundation for the management and conservation of sharks. It also aims to promote more sustainable interactions with these creatures.

Bull sharks are known to frequent Playa del Carmen to give birth to their young from November to March, although they can be spotted along the coasts from September. They are recognized for breeding in coastal lagoons and mangroves.

"These are pregnant females in their final gestation period, so they are crucial for the continuity of the species. We are committed to ensuring their protection while they are in this area," Navarro said.

According to Navarro, there are over 450 species of sharks globally. In Mexico, 111 species have been registered, with 22 of them listed in the appendices of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). However, only four species are protected by NOM 029 PESC 2006, a regulation for responsible fishing of sharks and rays. Notably, the bull shark of Playa del Carmen is not among these protected species.

Despite this, bull sharks hold significant value in the city, as around 300 families depend on them. The catalogue aims to understand the behavior of the groups that visit each winter. It also encourages citizens, divers, photographers, and others to document, gather data, and advocate for public policies that protect sharks.

Candy López Castillejos, a shark diving expert, mentioned that the catalogue includes photo identification. It features over 10,000 photographs taken over the past five years by more than 15 photographers, 28 permit holders for bull shark diving, and local fishermen.

The catalogue also includes data such as the number of individual sharks, type of activity (observation or attraction), water temperature, visibility, current, date and time, and more. The online version can be found at https://baalche.com/pages/projecto-azul.

Navarro emphasized the importance of sharks for the health of the oceans. "Sharks eat medium-sized fish, the medium ones eat the small ones, and the small ones feed on the reef, which produces oxygen for humans. If we want to keep breathing air, we need sharks to maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem," she said.