Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is a shallow lagoon located on the western coast of Baja California Sur, between 24º15’ – 25º20’ N and 111º30’ – 112º12’ W. It is part of the Magdalena Bay-Almejas Bay lagoon system. While most of the bay is accessible only by boat, the two main ports, Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos and Puerto San Carlos, are connected to Highway One by paved roads and are easily accessible. Comprised of 170,000 ha (1700 km2), the lagoon system can be divided into four main zones: north, central, south, and peripheral (for example, the western coast of Isla Magdalena which includes Santa Maria Bay).

Project overview:

The Magdalena Bay Project has three main components:

1. Shark Research: our scientific research involves several components in order to generate information about: a) potential shark nursery areas, b) fisheries c) population size, movements, and growth rates of shark species, d) acoustic array and shark monitoring e) abundance and diversity of sharks.

2. Community engagement: there are five main fishing communities in the Magdalena Bay area, who are dedicated to multiple fishing activities, such as lobster, shrimp, sardines, sharks, scallops, octopuses, and some of them combine this activity with grey whale ecotourism during the yearly season December-March. We aim to work with local fishermen

3. Marine Conservation: work hand in hand with local communities for the conservation of the Magdalena Bay marine ecosystem for future generations.

Shark Species of interest:

Inside Magdalena Bay: Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), Sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon longurio), Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus).

Seamounts offshore Magdalena Bay: Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Blue shark (Prionace glauca).