It's bull shark season in Playa del Carmen. I was fortunate enough to see these pregnant ladies a few times already, and I can't wait to see them again.
Bull sharks are feared by many, but fortunately humans are not natural features on their menu. These female sharks who regularly migrate to the Riviera Maya between November and March each year, averaging 2.4 meters in length and weighing up to 130kg.
Sharks have an essential role in maintaining the ocean health, as they remove sick individuals from healthy populations. Unfortunately, humans are their top predator. Shark fisheries are still an important source of employment and food in Mexico. In unprotected waters, like Mexico's Caribbean Sea, sharks are often caught as by-catch. kept alive, sharks offer major economic advantages as tourist attractions. One shark alive could total up to 800 million US dollars, versus the 40 US dollars earned for the same shark fished.
The bull sharks in Playa del Carmen are not protected currently. Until proactive measures and responsible ecotourism are enforced, and the universal role of sharks are redefined, these females who migrate to Playa every year could be a tale of the past.
To learn more, visit savingoursharks.org (Playa del Carmen's shark conservationists).
Source:http://www2.padi.com/blog/2017/07/23/tiburon-toro-bull-shark-mexicos-diamond-rough/
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