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“Sharks have no boundaries”

Sandra Bessudo, Founding President, Malpelo Foundation

Bessudo first discovered her love for the sea and Bessudo continues: «In addition to population
its biodiversity treasures as, aged four, she swam measurements, we also tagged certain indivi-
under water and gazed at a Caribbean angel fish. duals, in coordination with the Migramar Network.
Years later in 1989, when diving at Malpelo, she The network includes scientists from Columbia,
discovered extraordinary marine fauna: ham- Ecuador, Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica.» This
merhead sharks, white sharks, manta rays and project, which is supported by the Prince Albert II
moray eels, etc. Unfortunately, Malpelo is not only of Monaco Foundation, allows tracking of shark
home to scuba-diving marine fauna enthusiasts: migrations throughout this particular zone of
tens of fishing boats anchor on coral reefs and the Pacific. The data is used to determine their
come to fish sharks - especially thresher sharks - incredible migration routes, which are several
for their fins which are highly prized in Asia and thousand kilometres long, beyond all borders; this
South America. Bessudo launched the fight to is why intergovernmental coordination is key to
protect and preserve the tiny island’s biodiversity ensuring that populations are sustained and ideal
from fishermen and indifferent authorities. reproduction conditions guaranteed. The Malpelo Foundation
is an environmental NGO
Having witnessed repeated massacres, she ma- «It is vital to protect sharks because they are at
naged to convince the president of Columbia of the highest level of a fragile food chain,» urges the created in 1999. The
the time, Cesar Gaviria Trujillo, to join her on a Malpelo Foundation president. «If sharks were to Foundation’s missions is
trip to Malpelo Island and she asked for his help. disappear, the whole ecosystem would be threate-
In 1995, the Colombian government officially ned.» Bessudo’s actions are not limited to Malpelo: to promote the protection
declared the site a Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. «We also have to fight for the other islands in the and conversation of
Besudo explains: «Shark trafficking continued, region, such as the Galapagos, the Cocos and the
however, due to lack of means.» Panama islands.» Thanks to the expertise gained Columbia’s marine and
in protecting high-sea areas and its involvement coastal ecosystems and
She is aware that she has to relentlessly talk to the in creating a tropical Pacific marine corridor, the
fishermen and raise their awareness if Malpelo’s Malpelo Foundation contributed to protecting the whilst encouraging the
outstanding marine fauna is to be protected: Clipperton atoll, in close collaboration with French sustainable use of natural
«It’s no easy task because there are no minimum authorities. The atoll, located one thousand
social benefits or social security in Columbia. For kilometres off the Mexican coast was declared resources.
them, fishing is a question of survival.» In 1999, Marine Protected Area in November 2016.
Bessudo decided to create the Malpelo Founda-
tion to raise funding. Malpelo was classified as a
UNESCO World Heritage Marine Site ten years
ago. It is now protected by the Columbian Navy
which patrols the island as part of the fight against
illegal fishing.

«Sharks have no boundaries,» explains Bessudo
who is now a marine biology expert and who
collaborates with scientists from neighbouring
countries to protect the exceptional fauna. «We
are studying all Malpelo’s shark species (ham-
merhead sharks, thresher sharks - the most
sought after - Galapagos sharks, smalltooth
sand tiger sharks and whale sharks) and other
pelagic species such as whales and dolphins.»