Safeguarding The Whale Sharks' Existence.
Experts in Merida Yucatan warned that maintaining the health of the environment is vitally important for the species.
Notimex news released a report stating that institutions from various disciplines together with Conamp have worked in the past seven years to study the ways in order to promote the whale shark conservation off the Yucatan's coast, because this species has become a significant income source for the economy of thousands of family.
Since the year 2005, CINVESTAV or generally, the Center for Research and Advanced Studies Merida Unit, Yucatan Peninsula Pronatura, Conanp, The Nature Conservancy, along with tourism agencies perform the "The whale sharks monitoring and habitat characterization in the Yucatan's northeaster coast".
Two areas can be identified as most important for the species, which are established from the studies within range and abundance of the whale sharks in the northern part of the Mexican Caribbean.
The two areas are found to have high concentrations of zooplankton along with other nutrients that provide food and feeding area for the whale shark, showing a preference for feeding on certain groups of zooplankton.
This place is deemed having to do with high productivity of zooplankton around the globe, which gives shelter to numerous varieties of ecological and economic importance, including manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, commercial fish and lobsters.
Because of this, specialists involved with this project notify that conserving the great condition of the area has obtained increased significance in the conservation policy agenda, not just nationally, but globally.
Studies done by Cinvestav and the Natural Commission of Protected Natural Areas or (CONANP) aim to make people aware and understand the role of whale sharks in the marine environment, and people should make use of this knowledge in order to guarantee their survival.
According to the findings of Peninsula de Yucatan Pronatura,"Though there's improvement in some aspects of the biology and ecology of the species, at the same time with the operative management actions, there's still much to discover, investigate and implement."
The Conservation Program And Funding
Apart from the lack of economic resources which seems to be a common problem in almost all other cases of biodiversity conservation, the private sector has also limited involvement even if they have reaped a loads of benefits from the presence of this species in the Mexican Caribbean.
With the financial resources provided by the tourism, the above is accomplished and people are given the chance to swim with the friendly giant of the seas, an experience that very few lucky ones have lived and is increasingly desired by many others.
The Plan To Generate Information And Learning
The mentioned species, however, are vulnerable to human actions and activities which at the same time a threat to these wonderful sea giant's survival. A plan is necessary to offer sustainability to the economic activity in connection with the sightings.
At the same time, tourism companies and cooperatives have included the sharks sightings in their services and attractions therefore increasing the pressure on the species. Nevertheless the increase of endorsing the sightings for commercial purposes spreads faster when compared to information we've got involving population dynamics, migration as well as feeding of the species in the Yucatan Peninsula.
"Studies on the whale shark resources are scarce, and so the effort we make to be able to deliver information is vitally important as it will develop a baseline for short, medium and long term management" stated, in return, Eduardo Cuevasin in an interview.
Oscar Reyes who is among the promoters of this project and Peninsula de Yucatan Pronatura specialized biologist are the respondents.
The Difficulty That Lies Ahead
Oscar Reyes recalled that the Conanp precorded in 2004 about six thousand visitors, most notably many travelers from diverse countries, came to swim with the whale sharks; and ever since that time the figure keeps growing significantly from year to year.
"This tourist flow has generated a surge of economic activity in the way of tourism service providers, restaurants, hotels along with public services from Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres Chiquil communities in the adjoining state of Quintana Roo."
He also stated that most beneficiaries are fishermen who have engage into tourism from then on.
"The most significant challenge is finding and characterizing the factors and processes in order to create the rules and guidelines which will give protection to the population of the whale sharks and their habitat in the Yucatan area.", he continued.
The end results have begun to take shape on maps as well as on other tools for information on shark sightings which should be employed to make a decision with regards to the tourism activities management and regulation.
The joint effort among civil organizations, federal government and academic institutions is hence among the most significant one in the recent years which must be continued, increased and supported to guarantee and make sure that these giants of the seas remain to exist in the Mexican waters forever.
If you want to give support or be a part of this case, you can get more information by sending email to ecuevas@pronatura-ppy.org.mx or freyes@pronatura-ppy.org.mx.
Experts in Merida Yucatan warned that maintaining the health of the environment is vitally important for the species.
Notimex news released a report stating that institutions from various disciplines together with Conamp have worked in the past seven years to study the ways in order to promote the whale shark conservation off the Yucatan's coast, because this species has become a significant income source for the economy of thousands of family.
Since the year 2005, CINVESTAV or generally, the Center for Research and Advanced Studies Merida Unit, Yucatan Peninsula Pronatura, Conanp, The Nature Conservancy, along with tourism agencies perform the "The whale sharks monitoring and habitat characterization in the Yucatan's northeaster coast".
Two areas can be identified as most important for the species, which are established from the studies within range and abundance of the whale sharks in the northern part of the Mexican Caribbean.
The two areas are found to have high concentrations of zooplankton along with other nutrients that provide food and feeding area for the whale shark, showing a preference for feeding on certain groups of zooplankton.
This place is deemed having to do with high productivity of zooplankton around the globe, which gives shelter to numerous varieties of ecological and economic importance, including manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, commercial fish and lobsters.
Because of this, specialists involved with this project notify that conserving the great condition of the area has obtained increased significance in the conservation policy agenda, not just nationally, but globally.
Studies done by Cinvestav and the Natural Commission of Protected Natural Areas or (CONANP) aim to make people aware and understand the role of whale sharks in the marine environment, and people should make use of this knowledge in order to guarantee their survival.
According to the findings of Peninsula de Yucatan Pronatura,"Though there's improvement in some aspects of the biology and ecology of the species, at the same time with the operative management actions, there's still much to discover, investigate and implement."
The Conservation Program And Funding
Apart from the lack of economic resources which seems to be a common problem in almost all other cases of biodiversity conservation, the private sector has also limited involvement even if they have reaped a loads of benefits from the presence of this species in the Mexican Caribbean.
With the financial resources provided by the tourism, the above is accomplished and people are given the chance to swim with the friendly giant of the seas, an experience that very few lucky ones have lived and is increasingly desired by many others.
The Plan To Generate Information And Learning
The mentioned species, however, are vulnerable to human actions and activities which at the same time a threat to these wonderful sea giant's survival. A plan is necessary to offer sustainability to the economic activity in connection with the sightings.
At the same time, tourism companies and cooperatives have included the sharks sightings in their services and attractions therefore increasing the pressure on the species. Nevertheless the increase of endorsing the sightings for commercial purposes spreads faster when compared to information we've got involving population dynamics, migration as well as feeding of the species in the Yucatan Peninsula.
"Studies on the whale shark resources are scarce, and so the effort we make to be able to deliver information is vitally important as it will develop a baseline for short, medium and long term management" stated, in return, Eduardo Cuevasin in an interview.
Oscar Reyes who is among the promoters of this project and Peninsula de Yucatan Pronatura specialized biologist are the respondents.
The Difficulty That Lies Ahead
Oscar Reyes recalled that the Conanp precorded in 2004 about six thousand visitors, most notably many travelers from diverse countries, came to swim with the whale sharks; and ever since that time the figure keeps growing significantly from year to year.
"This tourist flow has generated a surge of economic activity in the way of tourism service providers, restaurants, hotels along with public services from Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres Chiquil communities in the adjoining state of Quintana Roo."
He also stated that most beneficiaries are fishermen who have engage into tourism from then on.
"The most significant challenge is finding and characterizing the factors and processes in order to create the rules and guidelines which will give protection to the population of the whale sharks and their habitat in the Yucatan area.", he continued.
The end results have begun to take shape on maps as well as on other tools for information on shark sightings which should be employed to make a decision with regards to the tourism activities management and regulation.
The joint effort among civil organizations, federal government and academic institutions is hence among the most significant one in the recent years which must be continued, increased and supported to guarantee and make sure that these giants of the seas remain to exist in the Mexican waters forever.
If you want to give support or be a part of this case, you can get more information by sending email to ecuevas@pronatura-ppy.org.mx or freyes@pronatura-ppy.org.mx.
About the Author:
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