Three nautical miles off the coast of La Paz, I sat perched on the edge of a research panga, accompanied by Alberto Garcia Baciero, the project coordinator at Tiburón Ballena México or Whale Shark Mexico. Overhead, a drone whizzed, serving as our watchful eye while we searched for the presence of an elusive whale shark beneath the surface. After a quick glimpse of its dorsal fin, we relied on the drone’s aerial perspective to track its movements. “I’m over its head,” yelled our spotter, prompting the captain to skillfully manoeuvre the boat ahead of the trajectory it was carving through the water. With my camera in hand and Alberto poised with his measuring tools, we prepared to plunge into the water. As the drone closed in, signalling the shark’s approach, we slipped into the water. Following Alberto’s lead, I took a deep breath and dove beneath the surface. The nutrient-rich waters concealed what lay beneath, but after a few metres, I was met by an astonishing sight – a large female whale shark emerging into view, its head the size of a small car. From a distance, the ten-metre length of these sharks creates a slow-motion illusion. But as the gentle giant approached underwater, its real speed became apparent. Alberto, swimming frantically to keep up, dove deeper to capture a photo ID of the whale shark and measure its dorsal fin.

Day after day, year after year, this is what Alberto and the team of scientists at Whale Shark Mexico do. Their valuable findings contribute to a foundation of data fuelling a unique and innovative approach to collaborative conservation efforts alongside the Mexican government, tourism operators and local community. For the past ten years, they have championed the protection of the extraordinary whale shark population in the Sea of Cortez, a unique habitat where these majestic creatures frequent both as juveniles and adults. Thanks to the distinct oceanic conditions of the region, the migratory behaviour of juvenile and adult whale sharks paints an annual pattern. Juveniles prefer shallower coastal areas where they feast on abundant plankton, while adults embark on extensive migrations through the open ocean, guided by ocean currents as they seek warmer waters and diverse places to feed. Nestled in the Bay of La Paz and bordered by the terracotta shores of eastern Baja California Sur, the Mogote Peninsula boasts nutrient-rich waters. During winter months, northern winds stimulate upwelling, bringing plankton to the surface and providing a bountiful feeding ground for approximately 100 juvenile whale sharks between October and April. 

In the vibrant ecosystem of the Sea of Cortez, whale sharks play a distinctive role that sets them apart from other shark species. They act as vital regulators and ensure a balance within the ecosystem. Whale sharks can consume enormous amounts of zooplankton per hour, effectively recycling essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus back into the ocean. This nutrient recycling process is a catalyst for sustaining other species in the ecosystem, from phytoplankton to fish, forming the foundation of the food chain.