SharkWatch Cozumel #4
Nadia will share the story of Sharkwatch Cozumel, a grassroots initiative born of urgency and hope in one of the world’s iconic marine destinations. Cozumel, a lush island off Mexico’s Caribbean coast, draws millions with its clear waters and coral reefs. Beneath the surface lies a fragile ecosystem at risk. Rapid tourism, unregulated development, and human activity are eroding reef health and diminishing shark populations crucial to ecological balance.
Launched in response, Sharkwatch Cozumel bridges science, community, and conservation. It combines Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from fishers and divers with research and geospatial tools to document sharks and their habitats, while empowering locals as ocean stewards.
Since 2022, it has recorded over 600 shark sightings, identified nursery areas, and engaged more than 7,000 people in conservation. Through education, citizen science, and advocacy, Sharkwatch Cozumel shifts perceptions, promotes sustainable tourism, and collaborates with authorities.
Nadia’s talk will show how the project provides vital data and builds a culture of care. With continued support, it will scale—protecting nurseries, expanding education, and shaping policy. Together, we can ensure sharks are respected as reef guardians, not feared or ignored.
This is a series regarding MesoReefDAO's Reef Futures QF Round.
We thank AuraSci for all the support!
The call will be in Spanish (ES). We will add English (EN) subtitles in the coming days.