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School For Field Studies

Conserving Marine Mammals & Coastal Ecosystems

This is a field based program for E3B, Ecology & Environmental Studies & Biology students. The program focuses on the management of critically important fisheries and water quality issues in Bahía Magdalena. Students in the fall and summer semesters research conservation strategies to protect several marine turtle populations reduced to near-extinction. Despite strong regulations against their exploitation, green turtles are still frequently poached for their meat and eggs and are caught as by-catch by fishermen. A complex interaction of community social and cultural factors, lack of protected area sanctuaries, lack of enforcement of existing regulations, and economic hardship in local communities has led to the continued exploitation and the rapid decline of sea turtle populations throughout Mexico.

Spring semester students, while continuing our research on turtle conservation, also focus on applied ecology of the gray whales and a socio-economic analysis of whale watching activities. Since commercial whaling was banned in 1946, the gray whale population is thought to have recovered to around 24,000. Only four calving and mating grounds for this species are known to exist and Bahía Magdalena is the only one not currently protected. The recovered population now drives a growing whale watching industry, which creates new problems that require field research to understand and resolve them.

Stduents hsoudl have taken at least 1 year of biology or ecology coursework. For more information, contact and or SFS.