Sea Life Presentation
Club Cruceros hosted an educational event in the Vista Room at Marina de La Paz on Thursday, January 26 at 3 pm. The presentation was attended by 49 members and guests and discussed the marine life environment around La Paz.
Two local researchers were the featured speakers. Stephanie Rousso, who has given popular talks to the cruising community in the past, is a Marine Ecologist with Blue Turtle Sustainable. Arthur Caulliez is a Biologist with Whale Shark Mexico.
Topics included: Ongoing sea turtle research and how cruisers can assist, the status of the local whale shark colony and basic whale shark biology, and a report on a new sustainable seafood business to help prevent sea turtle by-catch.
Stephanie Rousso is a marine ecologist and PhD candidate at the local Marine Science Center (CICIMAR). She founded her research organization, Blue Turtle Sustainable in March 2020 as a way to offer wild and responsible seafood and expeditions to help fund her ongoing research. She is developing the first seafood certification for México with small-scale fishermen as a creative way to reduce the incidental capture of endangered wildlife from fishing gear. She has lived full-time in Baja Sur since 2010 and finds joy in watching her two rescued street dogs play on the beach in Centenario. She is also a recently certified meditation teacher and gives free meditation classes every Friday at the Community Garden on Legaspy Street.
Arthur Caulliez is an environmental engineer and the project coordinator for the research program Whale shark Mexico. After studying biology in France, his birth country, Arthur worked for a few years towards sustainable aquaculture before joining the marine conservation field. Committed to working close to wild animals, Arthur supervises the monitoring of whale sharks in the bay of La Paz, working alongside the government and tourism operators for better management of this incredible species. Moving to the Baja two years ago, Arthur fell in love with this region and its wildlife. Also fond of photography, Arthur tries to transmit his love for nature and the ocean to other people through his camera.
Photos by Nestor Davalos and Julie Olson
