The Nado por las Ballenas Initiative Contributed to the Rescue of 10 Cetaceans in the Mexican Pacific

In an unprecedented effort to protect marine life, the Nado por las Ballenas (Swim for Whales) initiative, supported by the Secretaría del Medio Ambiente de la Ciudad de México (SEDEMA), the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), Ciudad Océano, and prominent Mexican athletes, has announced remarkable results.

Thanks to the funds raised in 2023, ten whales entangled in the waters of the Mexican Pacific were rescued. This year, 2024, the goal is ambitious: to double the income and diversify the support to strengthen the protection of these majestic whales.

Impact of the 1st Swim for Whales 2023

During a press conference, Stephanie Montero Bending, co-founder of Nado por las Ballenas, highlighted that in 2023 the funds (more than 500,000 pesos raised) were directed to the association ECOBAC and its project RABEN (Red de Asistencia a Ballenas Enmalladas). These funds have enabled the rescue of whales caught in fishing nets, a fundamental task for the conservation of marine species.

A portion of the funds also supported the “Menos Velocidad Más Vidas” (Less Speed, More Lives) campaign, which aims to educate boaters in Banderas Bay about the importance of reducing vessel speed to avoid collisions with whales, one of the world’s greatest threats to these marine mammals.

The fundraising effort was kicked off by the 1st Swim for Whales 2023, held in October as part of World Animal Day. This challenge brought together 108 teams and over a thousand participants from 11 countries who swam, ran, biked or walked a total of 35 kilometers to create a global movement for marine conservation.

2024 Goal: Double the Support

For 2024, Swim for Whales has set an even more ambitious goal: to raise one million pesos to implement a comprehensive strategy to support six key projects for the conservation of humpback whales and marine ecosystems in Banderas Bay.

Actions planned include rescuing whales caught in fishing nets, conducting monitoring trips and removing ghost nets, supervising whale-watching activities, planting a thousand coral fragments in the Marietas Islands National Park, educating 180 children from Banderas Bay, and implementing the Bahía Cero Campaign, which focuses on reducing single-use plastic consumption.

Tour of Banderas Bay: A Special Event

In 2024, the first edition of the Vuelta a la Bahía de Banderas en Equipos (Tour of Banderas Bay in Teams) will take place, an event that promises to attract worldwide attention. Six teams, led by internationally renowned open-water swimmers, will swim the 120 kilometers of the bay in six stages. Each team will promote one of the six conservation projects and raise funds from August through December.

Among the leaders of this initiative is Jorge “Coco” Villegas, a veteran open water coach who expressed his excitement at being part of a project of this magnitude: “I’ve been in open water for over 45 years, first as a swimmer and now as a coach. After all that open water has given me, I’m thrilled to be able to give back with this great project.”

Mexico’s Role in Cetacean Protection

In Mexico, cetacean conservation is a joint effort between the government and various non-governmental organizations. Eduardo Ponce, director of conservation project monitoring strategies at CONANP, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing conservation challenges: “We all need to unite and join efforts in projects like Swim for Whales to promote conservation.”

The Swim for Whales initiative has not only become a benchmark for marine conservation in Mexico, but has also mobilized a global community around a cause that reminds us of the importance of protecting our natural heritage for future generations.

If you would like to join this cause and help protect whales in Mexico, you can donate directly at https://www.fonnor.org/sumate/.