Monitoring a large shark aggregation that feeds wildlife tourism

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Curious nurse sharks and southern stingrays dance with a snorkeler at Shark Ray Alley. Photo: Rachel Graham/MarAlliance

 

Tourism focused on encounters with sharks and rays has increased dramatically worldwide as people increasingly seek out the animals they once feared, and are keen to experience the thrill of meeting large marine wildlife up close. Successful wildlife tourism is predicated on predictability, and one way of increasing the possibility that visitors will encounter sharks and rays is by feeding the animals. This practice, also known as provisioning, has polarized biologists, who fear that feeding modifies natural behavior and also creates expectations where animals see people and expect food. There are studies that support all of these aspects, yet in countries where sharks and rays are killed, the positives of provisioning generally outweigh the negatives. Provisioning sites can help people to encounter animals that are otherwise feared and provides high non-consumptive value for sharks and rays through tourism.

The lack of information about many provisioned aggregations of sharks and rays worldwide extends to one of the longest-known provisioned sites: Shark and Ray Alley in Belize’s Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  With visitors to the marine reserve and its sharks and rays topping 75,000 people a year, the need to assess the size, demography, recruitment and diversity of species of the aggregation became the focus for our long term monitoring study. The methods are simple, consisting of weekly video and photo surveys of the individual nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and rays to determine whether feeding activity has affected the behaviors and habitat use of the animals at Shark Ray Alley.

Our research at Shark Ray Alley consists of individuals gathering size estimates and sexes of the sharks and rays. We also gather population counts and photo identification of the animals on site. To gather such information, we travel to Shark Ray Alley once a week with either a tour operator during their scheduled time if space is available, or with a Hol Chan Marine Reserve ranger. Upon arrival we make an initial count from the boat of the number of sharks, rays, and turtles  present. We also gather and record environmental conditions and a number of other factors including the number of guests, whether chum is used, type of chum used, and the number of other tour boats in the area. Most often we have two surveyors; one recording data and taking in water photos of individual dorsal fins, and the other using a size estimation tool with a GoPro attached recording underwater video of the animals. Here we continue the survey until the tour ends, or all of the animals vacate the area.

 

The most responsible tour operators use a chum tube stuffed with sardines and lowered to the seabed, to attract sharks and rays to their boat. Photo: Rachel Graham/MarAlliance

 

By gathering such information, we will be able to estimate average numbers of each species from the boat and in-water, average sizes, and proportions of males versus females, along with ecotourism data including average number of boats, how many tour boats feed/chum and how tour operators and tourists interact with the animals, and whether they are touching or handling the animals (which unfortunately several do).

Initial trials with a colleague’s drone highlights this as an efficient method of monitoring the provisioned aggregation from the sky. So our next step involves the purchase of a drone that will enable replicable aerial surveys to reveal abundance of animals and boats, animal behavior in relation to boats and will allow us to have a much more complete picture of the aggregation. We at MarAlliance have our very first GoFundMe campaign underway to make aerial monitoring a reality and a weekly occurrence with our surveyors. If you are keen to support our Eyes in the Sky project please visit our campaign at: https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/eyes-in-the-sky-to-monitor-sharks. Any size donation is most welcome.

It is clear that wherever shark and ray aggregations occur, either provisioned or natural, the sites are becoming tourism attractions. With good site management and shark and ray encounter etiquette applied by guides and rangers, such as no touching or chasing the animals, no hand feeding (use a feed tube or like), and briefing guests fully on the experience and protocol prior to entering the water, these predictable aggregations can transform a fear of sharks by many into appreciation, respect and stewardship for these magnificent creatures. And this is why we would much prefer a shark to be fed than dead.

 

A friendly Southern stingray checks out the photographer front as we take measurements to check on growth over time. Photos: Rachel Graham/MarAlliance

 

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Asistente de comunicación (Internship)

MarAlliance es una organización internacional sin ánimo de lucro registrada en EE.UU., Belice, Panamá y Cabo Verde, cuyo objetivo es explorar, facilitar e inspirar cambios positivos para la fauna marina amenazada, especialmente tiburones y rayas, sus hábitats críticos y las comunidades humanas dependientes. Nuestra misión es amplia y ambiciosa, y trabajamos en tres idiomas y en siete países de tres regiones. Ante el declive de muchas poblaciones de megafauna marina, estas especies necesitan una voz fuerte, eficaz y con base científica que las represente para ayudar a los socios dependientes a dar forma a las estrategias y acciones de gestión y conservación para invertir el declive.

Resumen del puesto:

Buscamos a un becario (6 meses) proactivo, con conocimientos digitales y excelente capacidad de redacción y edición de textos, que apoye la creación de contenidos escritos de alta calidad y recursos multicanal para difundir el trabajo que MarAlliance realiza a través de sus plataformas en línea (sitio web, redes sociales, boletín, entre otras) y fuera de línea, y que interactúe con nuestro público externo para contribuir a nuestros objetivos generales de comunicación y marketing. El Asistente de Comunicación dependerá directamente del Coordinador de Comunicación y Marketing, y trabajará en estrecha colaboración con el resto del equipo para apoyarles en los elementos de comunicación de su trabajo.

Las funciones y responsabilidades incluirán, entre otras, las siguientes:

  1. Proporcionar apoyo creativo, editorial y operativo a los proyectos. 
  2. Apoyo en la organización, etiquetado y etiquetado del archivo fotográfico y gestión del archivo de vídeo.
  3. Gestión de la comunidad: Gestionar activamente los canales de medios sociales, así como identificar nuevas tendencias y oportunidades de colaboración. Generar reels y visuales.
  4. Apoyo en la redacción de artículos de blog (SEO) y contenido de boletines. 
  5. Ayudar a construir y desarrollar materiales, herramientas y acciones para campañas (online y offline).
  6. Ayudar en diferentes tareas relacionadas con la comunicación trabajando mano a mano con contratistas externos (desarrollador web, diseñador gráfico…) para mejorar el compromiso de las audiencias externas.
  7. Apoyo en la elaboración de informes de campañas y comunicaciones (Google Analytics, métricas de redes sociales, informes de marketing por correo electrónico).
  8. Como parte del Equipo de Comunicación de MarAlliance, apoyar al Coordinador de Comunicación y Marketing en cualquier otro proyecto de comunicación, coherente con las habilidades y experiencia del titular del puesto, en circunstancias no rutinarias.

Experiencia, conocimientos y aptitudes requeridos:

  1. Licenciatura en comunicación, periodismo, marketing o cualquier disciplina relacionada.
  2. Experiencia en comunicación digital o marketing.
  3. Pasión e interés por la naturaleza, la vida marina y la conservación.
  4. Capacidad demostrada para redactar y presentar comunicaciones creativas.
  5. Presencia y conocimientos de medios sociales y digitales.
  6. Capacidad para realizar múltiples tareas y detectar buenas historias.
  7. Capacidad para trabajar a distancia y cumplir los plazos establecidos.
  8. Conocimientos de diseño gráfico deseables, pero no necesarios.
  9. Conocimientos de edición de vídeo deseables pero no necesarios. 

Salario y prestaciones:

Estipendio durante 6 meses.

Idiomas:

Español, con fluidez en inglés

Localización:

Nacionales o residentes de Panamá, Belice, México, Honduras, Guatemala.

Este contrato será a distancia dentro de las zonas horarias de América, flexible, a tiempo completo y desde casa con hasta un 10% de viajes ocasionales locales e internacionales.

Cómo presentar la candidatura:

Por favor, envíe su currículum, portfolio si lo tiene, y carta de presentación a info@maralliance.org con “MAR-CA_Apellido” en el asunto antes del 21 de marzo, 2024. No se admiten llamadas.

Communications Assistant (Internship)

MarAlliance is an international non-profit registered in the US, Belize, Panama and Cabo Verde that aims to explore, enable and inspire positive changes for threatened marine wildlife – notably sharks and rays – their critical habitats and dependent human communities. Our remit is broad and ambitious, and we work in three languages and across seven countries encompassed by three regions. In the face of declines in many populations of marine megafauna, these species need a strong, effective, and science-based voice to represent them to help dependent partners shape management and conservation strategies and action to reverse declines.

Position summary:

We are seeking for a proactive, digitally savvy Paid Intern (6 month) Communications Assistant with excellent writing and copy editing skills, who will support the creation of high-quality written content and multichannel assets to broadcast the work MarAlliance does through its online (website, social media, newsletter, among others) and offline platforms, and engage with our external audiences to contribute to our overall communications and marketing goals. The Communications Assistant will directly report consistently to the Communications and Marketing Coordinator, and work closely with the rest of the team to support them on the communications elements of their work.

Duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

  1. Provide creative, editorial, and operational project support. 
  2. Support organizing, labeling and tagging the photo archive and video archive management.
  3. Community Management: Actively manage social media channels, as well as identify new trends and collaboration opportunities. Generate reels and visuals.
  4. Support with writing blog articles (SEO) and newsletter content. 
  5. Help build and develop materials, toolkits, and actions for (online and offline) campaigns.
  6. Assist in different communications-related tasks working hand in hand with external contractors (web developer, graphic designer…) to improve the engagement of external audiences.
  7. Support in campaign and communications reporting (Google Analytics, social media metrics, email marketing reports)
  8. As part of the MarAlliance Communications Team, support the Communications and Marketing Coordinator with any other communications projects, consistent with the skills and expertise of the post holder, in non-routine circumstances.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Required:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or any related discipline.
  2. Experience working in digital communications and or marketing.
  3. Passion and interest for nature, marine life and conservation.
  4. Proven ability to write and deliver creative communications.
  5. Social Media and digital presence and knowledge.
  6. Ability to multitask and spot good stories.
  7. Capable of working remotely and meeting established deadlines.
  8. Graphic design skills are desirable but not required.
  9. Video editing skills are desirable but not required.

Salary and benefits:

Stipend for 6 month.

Language:

English, Spanish are mandatory.

Location:

Panama, Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala nationals or residents. 

This contract will be remote within the Americas time zones, flexible, full-time and home-based with up to 10% occasional local and international travel.

How to apply:

Please send your resume, portfolio if you have one, and cover letter to info@maralliance.org with “MAR-CA_Last name” in the subject line by 21st of March, 2024. No calls please.