Whale shark research in Mexico

Planet

We work hard to protect and conserve the destinations we visit around the world. We are a major international funder for whale shark research and conservation around the world, supporting local research and NGOs within Mexico. Together, we have been helping to improve sustainable tourism practices in the Yucatan.

Whilst on these trips, our research team will share our knowledge about whale shark ecology, latest research discoveries around the world; and both issues & progress made with conserving this endangered species. Participants are always full briefed about keeping an appropriate distance from the whale sharks, to respect them and never to touch.

People

Waters off the north east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula are some of the richest in the world for pelagic marine life: a location where we not only see Whale Sharks, but can sometimes snorkel with schools of 100 or more Giant Manta Rays, Dolphins, Golden Cownose Rays, Mobula Rays, Turtles and see Sail Fish exploding out of the water. Government cut backs have meant that development of an effective management plan has fallen largely to unpaid researchers from the local community, some of whom were previously employed by the government. These trips help to provide these researchers with a livelihood and pay for their continued boat-based research and monitoring trips amongst this incredible abundance of marine life.

A critical part of our local research team’s work is to structure a voluntary code of conduct for marine tourism operators in the area. This is designed to help them operate profitably and sustainably as an alternative to fishing, which has often been the largest contributor to loss of manta rays, mobula rays, golden cownose rays and fish whose eggs contribute to the largest annual aggregation of whale sharks on the planet.

Further aims are to create a marine park to protect whale sharks from their largest cause of death: strikes by large ships. These large ship strikes not only cause the death of marine life, but also risk eliminating a sustainable resource for the local community.

We urge you to come and enjoy one of our ocean’s most spectacular accumulations of marine life, with local and international whale shark experts, washed down with Mexican food, drink, culture and hospitality.