Working in community
We work with local captains, former shark fishermen from Agua Amarga, La Ventana, and El Sargento, to ensure the best experience working with the local community. After fishing for most of their lives, our captains recently transitioned to ecotourism. Having spent their life at sea, they are super knowledgeable about these waters and their eyes can see from far away every creature that swims by. Working with a network of local captains we are always aware of any important sightings and can communicate with each other about anything happening. We take pride in working with them and learning from each other in this new chapter.
Artisanal fishermen in Baja Sur:
Traditional fishing in Baja California Sur, Mexico, is a deeply rooted cultural practice that has shaped the lives of local communities for generations. The region, provides abundant marine resources, making fishing a crucial activity for sustenance and livelihood. Fishing in Baja is not only an economic activity but also a cultural one. It has been passed down through generations, with knowledge and techniques being shared within families and communities. A vital part of the region’s cultural and economic fabric and deeply connected with the marine environment.
It is called artisanal, as it is done on a small scale using simple tools and methods. Fishermen often use handlines, small nets, and spears, relying on their knowledge of local marine ecosystems to target specific species. The primary fishing vessel used is the “panga” a small, open boat that is well-suited for the coastal waters of the region. Pangas are the boats we use, as part of Baja´s culture.
In our tours, we often see fishermen throwing sardines to lure bigger fish and then throwing the “piola”, a handline that they master to catch anything coming close. Birds like frigates are always around the pangas trying to get a sardine, to me witnessing this tradition is really special and enriches our experience.
Shark fishing in Baja:
A variety of species are targetted in the region, including dorado (mahi-mahi), tuna, snapper, grouper, and various species of shellfish like lobster and abalone. But for our area, some of the main targets were sharks and mobula rays for many years. You can learn more about the sharks in the Baja Peninsula in this article: A bit about sharks in the Baja California Peninsula
Sharks were fished for their meat and oily liver, but with the rise of the shark fins market, fishing for sharks became even bigger. Due to their life histories, elasmobranchs are very sensitive to overfishing. After a decline in many of these species and a biodiversity loss in the whole ecosystem, education and awareness campaigns helped to encourage conservation efforts. Mobula rays targeted fishing has been banned for years now, and many former shark fishermen decided to turn to other activities. You can read about mobula conservation efforts here at Mobula Conservation Project: https://www.mobulaconservationproject.com/
A shared future
We are proud of being part of the community, providing together sustainable options for the area. Working with former shark fishermen, we support them in their journey to preserve Baja´s biodiversity for future generations. Together we make the experience richer, with the scientific view and the local knowledge converging to create a wider field of view. Our captains understand that sharks are crucial for the marine ecosystem and that we need them for a healthy ocean. They can tell us stories from when sharks swam in bigger numbers and about the adventures they have lived during all this years. We don´t see another way to do this than with our community.