Sharks Get A Bigger Home Protection By Mexican Navy

Sharks' home in Mexico's Revillagigedo National park - one of North America's largest marine protected area - will now be given protection by Mexican navy. The announcement came after years of hard work by researchers to tag and track sharks. It has finally translated into a political policy. James Ketchum, who began the research as a graduate student at the University of California, Davis and is now working as a conservation director of PalagiosKakunja (marine conservation organization), said he is excited as years of hard work has finally become useful.

Revillagigedo National Park - also called "Galapagos of North America - is spread over to more than 150,000 square kilometers (150,000 square kilometers) around the Revillagigedo Archipelago - a set of four volcanic islands located at around 480 km southwest of Baja Peninsula. The creation of the park was announced by Mexico last November so as to protect sharks, giant manta rays, dolphins, humpback whales, fish and migrating birds. The study done by researchers found that 40 nautical miles around each island would be the best area to protect the marine animals and their ecosystem. The park design was proposed in 2014 and an expanded design, that was eventually made into the new national park, came into existence in 2017. Along with Mexican Navy, Pew Charitable Trusts are also planning to monitor the islands with the help of satellites. Sharks hold a bad rep due to their portrayal as predators but they are crucial in keeping our ecosystem healthy.

By: NehaMaheshwari

Content: https://www.livescience.com/63128-researchers-save-sharks-home.html