Mexico Bans Shark-Related Tourism at Guadalupe Island

The Mexican government has banned all shark-related tourism activities at Guadalupe Island, which is located off the coast of Baja California. This popular Pacific Ocean destination has been a popular hotspot for great white sharks and was known for activities such as cage diving, sport fishing, and shark watching from pleasure boats. The decision was made to protect the sharks within the Isla Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve, which includes the island, and was based on the harmful practices of some cage diving companies, who were known to use bait and other attractants in the water to give guests a more exciting experience.

The ban has had a significant impact on tour and charter companies that offer expeditions to Guadalupe Island, many of which are based in San Diego, California. Some tour operators are hopeful that the decision may not be permanent, however, and are waiting for the restrictions to be lifted. Nautilus Dive Adventures, a Canadian diving tourism company, is one such company that is optimistic about returning to Guadalupe Island in the future.

Great white sharks are considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the biosphere reserve is not only aimed at protecting their habitat, but also the habitats of bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and the Guadalupe Island fur seal. The ban also extends to the use of drones, except for limited cases where they are used for monitoring plant and animal activity in the reserve.