Baseline BRUV Surveys, Eastern Cabo Verde
We have monitored marine megafauna in Eastern Cabo Verde around the islands of Boavista, Maio and Sal since 2015. Working with traditional fishers and students we use baited remote under video (BRUV) deployed systematically around the islands based on a spokes-on-a-wheel design, that generated a baseline of abundance and distribution of sharks, rays and large […]
Mega-Planktivore Monitoring Boavista, Cabo Verde
We have monitored the seasonal abundance and distribution of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) around the island of Boavista, Cabo Verde, since 2015. Fisher and boat-based surveys with traditional artisanal fishers have revealed the SW quadrant to be the seasonal focus of mega-planktivores between June and October. Trained in-water observers […]
Tiger Shark Spatial Ecology Northeastern Cabo Verde
We have surveyed large-bodied coastal sharks in northeastern Cabo Verde since 2016, with a focus on the higher trophic predator – the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Using standardized scientific fishing techniques we capture, measure, sex, tag and release large animals. We have also deployed 12 fin-mounted SPOT tags to study their spatial ecology. To date […]
Nursery Area Monitoring Boavista, Cabo Verde
In 2015 MarAlliance identified the area known as the Baía de Sal Rei in northwestern Boavista, Cabo Verde as being used as a nursery area for several shark species. In 2016, we began monitoring work with a focus on the endangered scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini). We use standardized scientific fishing techniques that allow us […]
Niños del Mar Honduras
Our class based and experiential environmental education program in Honduras began in 2016 known as “Kids Meet Sharks” that focused on west Roatán to start with. By the end of 2019 we have worked with all schools in the 3 Bay Islands and other departments of Honduras. We also changed the project’s name changed to […]
Deep-Sea Fisheries MesoAmerican Region
Deep-sea fishing was established in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras at least 80 years ago, while the fishery in Belize began within the last 20 years. The barrier reef and offshore atolls of Belize are still quite productive, while the Bay Islands of Honduras are likely overfished. Fishers in Guatemala are the only in the region […]
Searching for Sawfish Panamá
Sawfishes are large rays historically found in over 70 tropical and sub-tropical countries. Due to incidental and directed capture in fisheries and loss of critical habitats, sawfish populations have declined dramatically in the last 2-3 decades. Both species encountered in Panama are now Critically Endangered to extinction. Since 2016 MarAlliance has been carrying out a […]
Niños del Mar Panamá
Since 2017 MarAlliance has been conducting education and outreach activities in Panama, including classroom visits, interactive activities, community presentations, and participatory training workshops. Niños del Mar (‘Kids of the Sea’) is MarAlliance’s marine education program focused on primary school students.
Marine Megafauna Monitoring Guna Yala, Panamá
MarAlliance has been working with communities in the Guna Yala Comarca to control invasive lionfish populations and assess the status of marine megafauna around the archipelago. Using Baited Remote Underwater Videos and underwater visual census our team of Guna fishers, captains, students, and biologists lead by MarAlliance staff have collected the first data on the […]