PROJECT AMOARA
From unsustainable fishing to sustainable eco-tourism and research
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
JOIN OUR OCEAN SAFARI, WATCH WHALES, SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS, DOLPHINS, TURTLES.
SUPPORT OUR RESEARCH ON SHARK NURSERIES
We take you to the beautiful San Blas area for an ocean safari to swim with whale sharks, dolphins and turtles. You will also be able to watch the humpback whales, their calves and the fascinating mating rituals of the whales.
1.
GIVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN TOURISM INSTEAD OF SHARK FISHING
Our crew on the boat are local fishermen. These men would otherwise make their money by unsustainable shark fishing in the area.
2.
Profits from the trips finance the research conducted in cooperation with the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. The goal of the research is to help with the official protection of this important area.
3.
WHAT WILL YOU EXPERIENCE
An epic journey that helps us to save sharks. Join our ocean safari and snorkel with the biggest fish in our oceans, the majestic whale sharks, swim with dolphins, turtles, and watch the gentle humpback whales with their calves. Experience amazing wildlife encounters with a crew of local fishermen and our professional guide. Be part of the change - from unsustainable fishing to sustainable eco-tourism and research.
INFORMATION:
PICK UP & DURATION: We pick you up at 6am at Sayulita or San Pancho, the duration of the entire trip is 12 hours
BOAT: You will spend 5 hours on a private comfortable boat with shade
TRANSPORTATION: It takes 2 hours to get to San Blas. We use a comfortable private minivan.
SEASON: December - March
PRICE INCLUDES:
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5 hours of ocean safari on a private boat - swimming with whale sharks, dolphins and whale watching
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Professional guide that will help you in the water
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Fishermen crew that will help us find the animals
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Album of photos from the trip
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Conservation briefings about the project, shark research and importance of sharks
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All transportation during the trip
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Snacks, water, lunch
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Snorkeling gear
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
WHY SAVING SHARKS ?
Sharks are on the complete top of the oceanic food chain - they are apex predators of our oceans. As such, they play a crucial role in the ecosystem by maintaining the species below them in the food chain in balance. They help remove the weak and the sick as well as ensure species diversity. Sharks play a vital role in keeping our oceans in balance and they serve as an indicator of ocean health.
Sharks populations declined by more than 70 % in the last 50 years, mainly because of overfishing.
Nobody can tell what exactly would happen if sharks disappeared from our oceans completely, as it would be an unprecedented event, but we could expect that the ocean as we know it now, would change drastically. Studies have already proven several crucial roles of sharks in our oceans. Without sharks, we could expect overpopulation of some species and the disappearance of others, loss of biodiversity, decline of coral reefs, etc. Some studies even link sharks to the climate change.
For the future of our healthy oceans, it is crucial that we put shark conservation as one of our priorities.
Nayarit is one of the states with the highest numbers of sharks being fished out in the entire Mexico according to the annual statistics of CONAPESCA, the Mexican national committee of aquaculture and fisheries.
WHY IN SAN BLAS ?
San Blas is a fishing town north of Puerto Vallarta. San Blas is a beautiful place nested in mangrove forests, with access to the open Pacific Ocean full of marine life. It is a place we chose as a base for our shark conservation program - a place where we cooperate with the local community of fishermen and the Autonomous University of Sinaloa to study the importance of this area. Mangrove areas around San Blas serve as nurseries for juvenile sharks - a place where sharks spend the first part of their lives until they are big and strong enough to begin their journey in the open blue. Unsustainable fishing has a devastating impact on this area and that is why we are trying to offer an alternative source of income for the local fishermen.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE RESEARCH?
By joining our day trip, you support our research to characterize the shark nurseries areas in the San Blas area. In this research, Blue Religion collaborates with SIRBAA (Mexican consulting firm specializing in fisheries, aquaculture and environmental sector through data-driven solutions that offer its data analytical capacities for AMOARA project) and the scientific advisor Profesor J. Fernando Márquez-Farías, PhD. from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa.
Mangrove areas such as those in San Blas are known as places that are used by sharks as nurseries - coastal waters used by shark juveniles to a certain age as shelter for protection and food source. For sharks, these areas replace the parental care of the mother for her youngs and are crucial for their survival.
In San Blas, the shark nursery areas overlap with the areas of traditional fishing activity. That means that the juvenile sharks are being fished out, either intentionally or as by-catch, before they have a chance to leave the nursery area, start their lives in the open ocean where they serve as an important part of the food chain, or reproduce.
The research will help us to understand species diversity, the seasonal abundance of neonates and juveniles, and the exact areas of the nurseries. These characteristics are key elements to consider in the conservation and management of shark fisheries in the area and in establishing a higher protection of the area.
YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS CHANGE
San Blas is not only a fishing area, but most importantly, a town on the coast of the Pacific Ocean buzzing with marine life. You can look forward to an ocean safari with whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, dolphins, and many more. And as San Blas is a more remote area, we can guarantee very intimate and respectful encounters with all these animals.
Your presence on this trip helps us to finance the study and educational activities and of course, it is a direct income for the local captains and crew of fishermen on the boats that you will have your experience on.
Enjoy the interactions with some of the most captivating big marine animals while helping the local community to grow.
