Conservation Group Saves 30,000 Sharks in Quintana Roo Over Four Years

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A conservation organization has saved approximately 30,000 sharks in Quintana Roo over the past four years through a program that promotes sustainable tourism as an alternative to fishing.

Melodie Treviño, director of the group Saving Our Sharks for Mexico and the United States, highlighted the global scale of shark fishing, noting that 11,000 sharks are caught worldwide every hour, totaling about 100 million annually. “The main challenge in this issue is the continued illegal fishing happening in various places,” she said.

The cooperative Kab Xok (“Shark World”) has dramatically reduced shark catches by shifting its focus to protection. The group created a Shark Safari snorkeling expedition experience that provides financial support to fishermen while educating participants about the importance of sharks.

“With this, we have reported a recovery in shark populations in the Quintana Roo region, and the goal for 2030 is to establish a comprehensive shark and ray fishing sanctuary covering a large marine area,” Treviño added.

This year, the organization is working to create a Protected Natural Area for sharks in the Mexican Caribbean, which is currently in development and will help maintain protection. They also aim to establish Mexico’s first fisherman-managed shark sanctuary to protect key species, rehabilitate marine ecosystems, and promote sustainable tourism.

On Isla Mujeres, actions by the Kab Xok Cooperative and Saving Our Sharks have reduced shark fishing by 80% since 2022, transforming local fishermen into conservationists.

“For two years, fishermen received training thanks to scholarship funding from associations and private initiatives. In total, 32 families have benefited, and we want to expand the number of beneficiaries in other fishing communities of the Mexican Caribbean,” Treviño stated.

The activist noted that their awareness efforts reach 3.5 million people annually through activities during National Shark Month in July.

Key Figures

• 242,000 hectares are protected in collaboration with fishermen who now participate as “Masters of the Sea.”
• 2 responsible interaction activities are conducted with bull sharks and silky sharks.
• 116 partnerships exist with government, authorities, educational institutions, civil society, and businesses.