Shark Heroes of Cozumel and Masters of the Sea: Joining forces to protect sharks

The event, organized by the Shark Heroes community committed to the Saving Our Sharks Foundation and Saving Our Sharks AC in collaboration with Hotel B Unique Cozumel, brought together 'Masters of the Sea' fishermen committed to the protection of sharks.

During the event, the certification of fishermen in Advanced Open Water Diver and First Aid was celebrated, thanks to the support of PADI AWARE, DAN, tourism service providers and restaurants of Isla Cozumel, and the commitment of the Masters of the Sea to the protection of sharks was recognized.

The collaboration between Shark Heroes of Cozumel and Maestros del Mar of Isla Mujeres strengthens shark conservation in the Mexican Caribbean, benefiting ecosystems and local communities by promoting the conservation of biocultural heritage.

Cozumel Island, Mexico, March 11, 2024 The event celebrating the professionalization of the Kab Xok Cooperative of Isla Mujeres, organized by the Saving Our Sharks Foundation, Saving Our Sharks AC, and in collaboration with the B Unique Cozumel Hotel, successfully concluded on March 10th. This event brought together fishermen and Masters of the Sea committed to shark conservation, as well as “Shark Heroes” partners, including Saving Our Sharks Foundation allies, the local tourism/hotel industry, and the local diving community.

During the event, 10 fishermen from the Kax Xok Cooperative, also known as the Masters of the Sea, were celebrated for receiving their PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and First Aid certifications after three long days of training. The closing ceremony was held at the B Unique Hotel, a Shark Hero and B Corp partner, where the Masters of the Sea were recognized for their commitment to shark conservation and their progress toward professional development in ecotourism ventures was furthered.

“We are inspired by the work of the Masters of the Sea and recognize that it is thanks to them that we are enjoying significant shark sightings reported by service providers through citizen science since last year throughout the ecoregion, including Cozumel, thanks to efforts like those of Cozumel Ocean Research,” commented Cristina Balcázar Escalera, SOSF Project Manager and Shark Heroes Coordinator. “I want to thank the Cozumel community and especially the Shark Heroes for supporting the Masters of the Sea, who return to Isla Mujeres certified as advanced divers and with invaluable experience with the Cozumel community,” Cristina gratefully added.

The guests of honor at the event were 14 of the 28 Masters of the Sea, a group of heroic fishermen who have decided to abandon traditional shark fishing to embark on a joint effort in conservation and ecotourism entrepreneurship. Raziel, President of the Kab Xok Cooperative, marked the event with an emotional speech: “For years we have dedicated ourselves to shark fishing, but like everything in life, if you don't evolve, you die. So the time has come to do other things; we have to innovate, we have to change so that we can survive because if we continue like this, the moment will come when all of this will collapse, and what will we live on?”

The event also served as a space for local Shark Heroes to share experiences and knowledge, thus strengthening community and collaboration in shark conservation in the Mexican Caribbean. “We are at a critical moment for shark conservation. What our fisherman friends are doing is historic and momentous. Together, we can make Quintana Roo a shark sanctuary and encourage other coastal communities in Mexico to follow the example of these heroes of the sea,” commented Juan Pablo Maturana, owner of Scuba Life Cozumel, one of several companies and diving service providers supporting the initiative.

“We want to thank all the participants, partners, and collaborators for their support of this initiative, which included training, food, transportation, and lodging. This was a collaborative effort between sister islands to celebrate and show solidarity with the Masters of the Sea and, out of love for sharks, a keystone species for reef health,” said Luis Lombardo, Executive Director of the Saving Our Sharks Foundation. “Thanks to this collaborative and community-based effort, we have saved more than 20,000 sharks between 2022 and 2023, benefiting the health of ecosystems and local communities.”.

The success of the event in Cozumel highlights the importance of collaboration between Masters of the Sea fishermen, Shark Heroes, and allies of the Saving Our Sharks Foundation in protecting sharks. This initiative not only strengthens the professionalization of fishermen and their transition to ecotourism, but also benefits the health of ecosystems and the people who live in the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve and promotes the balance of the Mesoamerican Reef System, on which we depend for life and productive activities.

[End of Press Release]

Press contact:
Angélica Arenzana, Development Manager / a_arenzana@dev.savingoursharks.org

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Shark Heroes of Cozumel and Masters of the Sea: Joining forces to protect sharks

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