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Announced today, Project Domino, an initiative sponsored
by the Mexican government helping scientists study whale sharks, has
joined the Festival as a partner. Project Domino is dedicated
to the study, preservation and tracking of whale sharks in the waters
surrounding the Yucatan. Their local Photo Identification library
is shared with the Global Tracking Library.
Project Domino joins Festival sponsors Ceviche Tours, an ecotourism company,
and the Department of Tourism for Isla Mujeres. Nonprofit partners include
environmental leaders ECOCEAN, a renowned marine conservation organization; and
Amigos de Isla Contoy A.C., which promotes the conservation of Isla Contoy, nature
areas and regional projects of the Yucatan peninsula.
The Festival will be held July 1-5, 2009 in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Guests can swim with whale sharks, an endangered species and the largest
fish in the ocean. They can join the worldwide effort to protect
and preserve whale sharks by adding their photos to ECOCEAN’s
international Whale Shark Photo-Identification Library Project, a visual
database of the unique markings that allow scientists to indentify – and
track – individual whale sharks. The Project incorporates
a worldwide network of ecotourism sites, with regional databases (including
that of Project Domino) connected to the global Photo Identification
Library.
By contributing their excursion photos of whale sharks
to the Library, guests take part in the important efforts to identify,
track and protect this endangered species as “Citizen Scientists.”
At the Festival, guests can participate in a wide variety of family-friendly
activities:
- Live music, traditional dancing, booths and displays by local
artisans
- Tours of the Turtle Farm on Isla Mujeres
- Private excursions to Boca Iglesia, the first church built in
North America (in 1517)
- Snorkeling, diving adventures to the reefs and wrecks surrounding
Isla Mujeres
- Trips to Contoy Island to tour the National Park, the most important
nesting place of sea birds in all of the Mexican Caribbean, and
the Bird Sanctuary
- Swimming with whale sharks, the world’s largest fish
- Sport fishing charters, in-shore and offshore
“The Festival is an opportunity for travelers
to participate in ecotourism adventures and to immerse themselves in
the culture of this vibrant island community,” said John Vater,
who co-founded Ceviche Tours with his wife, Adriana, and longtime friend
and Isla Mujeres native Luis Refugio “Cuco” Sanchez
and his family. “They can also become ‘Citizen
Scientists’ by
participating in conservation initiatives that truly impact the survival
of the marine environment in Isla Mujeres.”
From July 2-4, 2009 preeminent scholars on marine biology,
sustainable ecotourism and Mayan Architecture will present sessions
for the academic community as well as the general public.
- Catalina Galindo de Prince, executive director of Amigos de Isla
Contoy, A.C.
- Alfonso Morales, Mayan archaeologist who recently served as Principal
Investigator for the Proyecto Grupo de las Cruces at Palenque (Mexico)
- Brad Norman, ECOCEAN founder and National Geographic Emerging
Explorers award-winner
- Rafael de la Parra, Lead Marine Biologist for Project Domino
Children will also participate, enjoying projects where they
explore the reefs, fish, and learn about the local bird population
and conservation efforts.
“The Whale Shark Festival is a true
celebration of the culture, heritage and the beautiful marine habitat
that make Isla Mujeres the Jewel of the Yucatan Peninsula,” said
Eyder Jahil Hoth Pérez,
director of tourism for Isla Mujeres.
Ceviche Tours provides sustainable ecotourism to the indigenous
peoples of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Founded by John and Adriana Vater
of Spa Adriana in Huntington Village, NY, with longtime friend and
Isla Mujeres native Luis Refugio “Cuco“ Sanchez and his
family, Ceviche Tours works with the indigenous islanders of Isla Mujeres
to help preserve their culture and maintain the integrity and beauty
of the surrounding marine environment. Through education and
photo identification efforts, Ceviche Tours joins the worldwide effort
to protect and preserve whale sharks. As participants on our
whale shark tours, guests are invited to be part of those identification
and tracking efforts.
For more information, please contact .
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