The need to protect the endangered population of the sharks in Isla Guadalupe caused the establishment of the Guadalupe Island Conservation Fund in early 2006. The International Community Foundation (ICF) worked in close collaboration with the scuba diving community and eco-community to help the Government of Mexico on this project. The money earned from the growing white shark tourism has been channeled into the island’s local conservation-related projects.
Since the creation of Isla Guadalupe as a Biosphere Reserve, protection of its endemic and unique wildlife species has been a real challenge due to its remote location and the lack of basic infrastructure. The need for enforcement and the protection of the waters of Isla Guadalupe is urgent and the Fund needs donations towards shark science and protection. Conservation of Sharks on Guadalupe Island is a great challenge.
The populations of white sharks all over the world have been vanishing over the last few decades. The estimate of the decline of the global population size is about 70-90%. White sharks are protected in countries like the US, Australia and South Africa but Isla Guadalupe is found in Mexican waters. The territory of white sharks intersects with fishing fleets, and this puts them in great jeopardy. Their fins, teeth and jaws are also highly valued commercially and they are the targets of sport fishermen. The white sharks are highly vulnerable to over fishing and their large size and slow reproductive rate puts them on the Endangered Species List.
There are Shark Divers who lead the shark conservation efforts. The diving industry also leads the protocols for safe and sane shark diving. The divers have incorporated conservation and protection in their industry. The past twenty years have seen the growth of commercial shark diving and it has developed and matured to offer safe and remarkable encounters with sharks worldwide without causing harm to the species.
Due to the conservation consciousness of the new age divers, shark fans are able to encounter many of the premier shark species. The population has been growing back steadily through the years because there have been aggressive campaigns to repopulate and protect the sharks in their native habitat. Thanks to the early few industry trailblazers, and the Mexican shark research undertaken by the scuba diving community, sharks at Isla Guadalupe have gotten the attention they deserve. Since then, global shark conservation programs have been initiated like The Shark-Free Marinas Initiative. The diving industry is an advocate for conservation and works hard to deliver unforgettable shark encounters for divers, the media and to research partners.
Everybody’s help is welcome, and in fact solicited. With enough donations, these majestic and important species will have ample protection and the other inhabitants of the region will be protected as well. The Guadalupe Island Conservation Fund receives active support from a concerned group of dive operators and divers who are seasonal residents of Isla Guadalupe.
The donations for the fund are tax deductible and the invitation is open to donors to see the Great White Sharks in their native habitat and fully appreciate the importance of their contribution to the long-term protection of these magnificent animals.