Learning about sharks and fieldwork in La Paz

By Estefanía Flores

I’m Estefi and I’ve just finished my 4-week internship with Pelagios Kakunjá. It’s been the best experience I’ve ever had so far and I’m so happy I experienced it!

First of all, I decided to come here as an opportunity to learn about sharks, the ocean and fieldwork. In that way, the internship went beyond my expectations, my first week I swam with 6 silky sharks, fished juvenile sharks (Rhizoprionodon longurio) and scuba dived in Cabo Pulmo where I saw my first bull shark!!

I’m so proud of myself because I learnt a lot about fieldwork in the ocean, how to handle and take measures of sharks, how BRUVS work, the reality that sharks are facing everyday due to overfishing activities, and the necessity of keep doing research in order to protect them.

Also, I got to meet incredible friends from all around the world and I met the best professor I ever had so far, Darren, who is so committed to sharks and to the internship program, so everyone learns a lot from him and his huge experience with sharks. I think I needed all this to confirm that this line of research is what I want to do in the future as a Biologist.

Overall, I was so happy here learning about these beautiful sharks and I want to keep learning more and more about them thanks to this experience. I would totally recommend this Internship Program if you’re interested in sharks in any way, you don’t have to be a biologist to come here and I promise you’ll have the time of your life gaining experience, lots of knowledge and having a good time with amazing people.   

Blog publication date: September 15, 2021