The status of sharks throughout Central America and the Caribbean is poorly known, information on captures remains sparse, and although some regulations exist, sufficient enforcement remains a difficult task. In 2011, Honduras declared its entire Exclusive Economic Zone as a Shark Sanctuary and prohibited shark fishing and the commercialization of any derivatives. While this was a huge step forward in the conservation of sharks in the region, we still know little about sharks and their status in Honduras.

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The country is home to several marine protected areas including the Bay Islands National Marine Park, the country’s largest. This area plays host to part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest reef system in the western hemisphere, stretching from the Bay Islands in Honduras to the tip of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. The reef surrounds the Bay Islands which include Guanaja – 43 miles off the north coast of Honduras, and 7.5 miles from the island of Roatan. Guanaja’s warm, clear waters support an extensive coral reef and diverse marine life. 
 
During this research expedition we will aim to determine the role of marine protected areas in the conservation of sharks and rays. You will contribute to a long-term data set of marine protected areas including the Bay Islands of Honduras and comparing them to fished areas. Additionally, you will also contribute to the organization’s citizen science project to understand the movements and abundance of spotted eagle rays using photo-identification.