Last week, Blue World Foundation team visited the community of El Quetzalito with the aim of continuing the monitoring of shark and rays landings in the area. During the morning a review was carried out, with the volunteers, of how to carry out the scientific monitoring of landings of sharks and rays. For this activity we used stuffed animals of sharks and rays and we focused on taking of photographs, measurements and collection of samples. Subsequently, the activity of landings was carried out that day. We thank the Rufford Foundation and the community volunteers for their continued support of the Foundation’s activities in the community.

From the 8^th to the 11^th of May, the Blue World Foundation team carried out the second monitoring of marine mega-fauna in the Caribbean of Guatemala. The objective of the project is to determine the abundance of the mega-fauna (sharks, rays, sea turtles, etc.) in the Caribbean of Guatemala. Monitoring was carried out with underwater video remote cameras (BRUV’S). During this tour, 12 different coral reef stations were monitored. 

We appreciate the support of the fishermen of El Quetzalito and Livingston in conducting this monitoring, as well as the support of the New England BioLab Foundation.

Excellent news for the communities of the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge (RVSPM), who, thanks to multiple donations and efforts from their community, will soon be able to access drinking water. Blue World Foundation thanks the support of the company Durman Esquivel Guatemala, who joined this effort and donated 50 PVC pipes. 

To know how you can support this project, you can send us an Inbox or write to eareano@fundacionmundoazul.com or mrosales@fundacionmundoazul.com

Through different environmental education activities, Blue World Foundation and the La Aurora Zoo, they presented various topics about sharks, aiming to positively change the perception of our children about these important animals. 

These activities were held every Friday of the 2016 during the morning at the La Aurora Zoo.

Great news! Thanks to the lionfish gala dinners that took place on August 18^th and 19^th, we managed to raise funds to donate 5 study scholarships for one year to students from the community of El Quetzalito. Education is the only way to broaden the horizons in the people of the communities, making them able to pursue their dreams. These dinners were prepared by the Group of women of El Quetzalito, who worked hard for three days, to show that dreams do come true. We would like to thank all the people who attended this event, our partners and donors: El Quetzalito, Milly Bruderer, La Margaritas Culinary Academy, Guatevisión, La Cava de los Monjes, CONAP, Dipesca, FCG, MarFund, German cooperation through the KfW, Francis Bruderer, Raquel Miron and Otto Becker.

You can still be part of the change! Write to us via Inbox or by email to eareano@fundacionmundoazul.com and ask as you can make your donation to take more scholarships to the communities of the Caribbean of Guatemala.

Last week, from 24^th to 26^th of August, Blue World Foundation, with the support of the Rufford Foundation, held the second workshop of the project “participatory management of shark fishermen in the Caribbean of Guatemala”. During this workshop was given to each of the participants the “Manual of Monitoring of Sharks and Rays for Fishing Technicians and Fishermen” and “shark identification guides”, material that was explained during the workshop. In addition, during this workshop, fishermen and local volunteers were told how to conduct a monitoring of landings of sharks and rays. To this end, they were explained how to carry out a monitoring of sharks and scientific rays, collecting scientific data, photographs and samples, material that is later used for scientific purposes.

Final Course Project lionfish We concluded the project: “Control of the populations of lionfish in the Motagüilla Reef in a participatory way with the community of El Quetzalito in the RVSPM”. We have worked with more than 200 lionfish, trained 8 people in responsible hunting, and prepared more than 12 lion fish recipes!!! To close with a brooch of gold, we made a cooking contest, in which the women of this beautiful community, exposed their talent and creativity…!

We are very grateful to all the people who participated, with the community of El Quetzalito, with the donors: FCG, Marfund, KFW/German cooperation and CONAP. This is a little dream come true.

During this year, Blue World Foundation and the Center for Sea Studies and Aquaculture, have carried out the monitoring of the marine megafauna in the Caribbean of Guatemala. For this purpose, sampling methodologies have been applied with remote video stations with bait (known as BRUVS) and the scientific long liners. This information complements the Chondrichthyes database for the Caribbean region.