Expedition Revillagigedo Archipelago
Project Leader
The Revillagigedo project by Ocean Blue Tree supports manta ray research in Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico. Using biopsies and telemetry, scientists study reproductive and stress hormones to inform diving restrictions and enhance conservation.
Discovering a shark nursery.
Status of shark populations at the Revillagigedo Archipelago are unknown, although evidence indicates heavy exploitation by fisheries. In March 2019, Ocean Blue Tree provided a vessel and funding for a 3-week expedition to Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico.
The expedition spent 4 days in Clarion a remote island rarely visited by dive operators or scientists. This was a unique opportunity for the scientists who installed 3 receivers and acoustically tagged 9 juvenile Galapagos sharks, suggesting this is a newly discovered nursery ground.
During the expedition the team documented and reported an illegal sports fishing vessel.
PROJECT LEADER
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos
Dr. Mauricio Hoyos is the Director and Co-founder of Pelagios Kakunja in La Paz, Mexico. Since 1998, he has led shark research across several countries, focusing on nursery areas, reproduction, and migration. He sits on scientific committees for marine reserves in Mexico and actively contributes to conservation policy.
A passionate communicator, Mauricio has given around 300 talks, advised international documentaries, and earned multiple awards for his work. He’s a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers and has authored over 85 scientific publications, a book, and several conservation manuals.
Does scuba diving impact oceanic manta ray health?
In the Revillagigedo Archipelago, the high density of recreational diving boats from November to June presents additional threats to oceanic manta rays. Dive operators use fixed lines to provide easy descents to dive sites, and manta rays occasionally become entangled in these lines, as well as lines connected to divers’ surface marker buoys, which cause serious injuries.
During an expedition with Ocean Blue Tree and Pelagios Kakunjá, Dr. Mauricio Hoyos successfully collected 14 biopsies from oceanic mantas. The biopsies will be analysed for reproductive and stress hormones. The analysis of the hormones will allow scientists to identify the patterns of sexual maturation, mating, gestation and postpartum. The scientific team will return during the low season to collect biopsies to compare stress levels when there is low dive intensity.
Increased understanding will allow marine park managers to adjust diving restrictions during peak manta reproductive months to reduce stress on these majestic animals.
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