Saving Our Sharks Drives Conservation and Ecotourism in Mexico’s Caribbean

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The foundation Saving Our Sharks, led by Melody Treviño, is expanding its presence in the region with initiatives aimed at transforming coastal communities’ relationship with the sea. The goal is to shift from fishing to conservation and from conservation to ecotourism, creating a sustainable model that protects key species while generating economic benefits.

Treviño explained that the foundation is currently working on projects in Isla Mujeres, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel. In Playa del Carmen, they promoted a management plan for bull sharks. In Isla Mujeres, they developed the Tiburón Isla Mujeres initiative in collaboration with the Patria y Progreso cooperative, which led to the creation of the Kab Xok cooperative. Kab Xok went from catching 70% of the sharks in the Mexican Caribbean to becoming an ecotourism project.

“Last year we launched the Shark Safari with them, and we are very happy because it is the culmination of many years of work,” Treviño said.

The foundation’s mission extends beyond conservation to repopulating species essential for the health of the marine ecosystem. “Our additional goal is to grow and share conservation and environmental education consciously,” she said, emphasizing that education is a core part of their activities.

In Cozumel, Saving Our Sharks plans a new initiative involving both fishing cooperatives and local tour operators. The aim is to leverage the island’s marine ecosystem, considered one of the world’s most important for diving and other ecotourism activities.

“We are definitely migrating and evolving as a foundation to grow this eventually,” Treviño said.

The transition to ecotourism not only protects species like sharks but also opens opportunities for coastal communities, offering sustainable economic alternatives and reinforcing the region’s cultural identity.