Saving Our Sharks and the Kab Xok Cooperative are exponents of their model for transitioning from fishing to conservation.
Within the framework of Forum “Conversations at Sea Level”, organized by Firm Roots, a non-profit organization in Yucatán, the Saving Our Sharks Foundation and the Kab Xok Cooperative They were invited to share their experience as part of a panel dedicated to marine conservation and sustainable development.
“Conversations at Sea Level” was a resounding success, celebrated in the Chamana Restaurant of the Pachamaya Hotel Cancun, With a series of public talks led by experts on various topics over three days, the forum aimed to bring knowledge closer to the people, making it accessible, engaging, and digestible for non-specialized audiences. The topics revolved around sustainability from a local perspective, with each day focusing on a different theme. This forum, centered on strengthening dialogue and action around the region's environmental challenges, became a key platform for showcasing projects that are generating a positive impact on coastal communities and marine ecosystems in the state.
From fishing to conservation: a necessary change
During the presentation, the president of the Saving Our Sharks FoundationPepe Funes, and Raziel Rivero, representative of the Kab Xok Cooperative, highlighted the triumphs of a transition that has marked a turning point in marine conservation: the shift from extractive fishing to sustainable fishing. active conservation of sharks . This strategy not only seeks to protect biodiversity, but also to offer sustainable living alternatives for communities that depend on the sea.
The Kab Xok Cooperative, made up of fishermen from Isla Mujeres, shared how, through the accompaniment of Saving Our Sharks, have redirected their activities towards the species monitoring, unsustainable tourism and environmental education. This model, in addition to preserving the ecological balance, strengthens the social and economic fabric of local communities.
For its part, the Saving Our Sharks Foundation emphasized the importance of forge alliances with local actors and to promote citizen science as a key to making informed and fair decisions for ecosystems and people.
A clear message: conservation also means caring for people
The participation of both organizations in Raíces Firmes left a powerful message: Marine conservation cannot be separated from human well-being. Protecting sharks and other marine organisms also means ensuring the future of communities that have historically lived off the sea.
The Firm Roots Forum served as a reminder that the most lasting solutions arise when traditional knowledge, science, and community engagement are combined. Saving Our Sharks and the Kab Xok Cooperative are proof that. A paradigm shift is possible when working with vision, respect, and collaboration.
