Panama looks to science, fishers, and the law to protect its sharks and rays

In a small fishing vessel named Tabor, anchored near Chepillo Island within Panama Bay, a crew of around a dozen sailors, including a marine biologist named Yehudi Rodríguez, engages in a unique practice. Rodríguez, a professor of biology at the University of Panama and founder of the NGO Shark Defenders, is tasked with rescuing and releasing marine creatures that are inadvertently caught in the vessel's purse seine nets.

These creatures, often referred to as bycatch, include sharks, rays, and other marine species that were not the intended targets of the fishing operation. Two sailors, Yehudi Rodríguez and Joel Cordoba, assist the biologist in freeing a large black devil ray, weighing approximately 100 kilograms, back into the ocean. They meticulously record the location of the rescued animal, identify the species, and ensure the procedure is carried out under a strict protocol to ensure the well-being of the marine life.

This practice is part of Promarina S.A., a Panamanian company authorized to catch only small open-ocean fish, such as sardines and herrings. The strategy of working alongside the fishing industry to protect marine life and promote sustainable fishing practices is part of a broader effort to protect sharks and rays in Panama.