Tag sharks and sea turtles, collect eDNA, and snorkel with Dr. Rachel Graham on a 5-day citizen science expedition in Panama’s Las Perlas Islands.

Set in the Gulf of Panama in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, the Las Perlas Archipelago (Pearl Islands) is a global biodiversity hotspot. Its diverse marine habitats support sharks, rays, sea turtles, and many species of finfish. Yet the area faces serious conservation challenges, including limited management and a lack of baseline scientific data. On this expedition, you’ll help close those gaps.

Trained by our team of researchers and local fishers, you’ll learn field monitoring techniques, identify and tag marine megafauna such as whitetip reef sharks and sea turtles, and help collect eDNA samples. Your participation generates vital data for conservation and supports sustainable livelihoods for the local fishing community.

Join us on this unparalleled Expedition, where each moment promises discovery, adventure, and a profound connection with the mesmerizing world beneath the waves.

• Species Identification of Sharks, Rays, Turtles, and Piscivorous Fishes: Identifying marine megafauna by species is an important part of assessing biodiversity. Species ID will be used in analyzing Baited Remote Underwater Video recordings.

• Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs): BRUVs are structures made out of PVC pipe or metal that contain a GoPro camera and an extended arm with a bait cage. BRUVs are deployed at various sites for at least 60 minutes at a time in order to record species that are attracted to the bait. These videos are later analyzed to record the species and relative number of individuals and assess diversity and relative abundance.

• Longline Capture and Tagging of Sharks and Rays: Scientific longlining is another method to assess shark and ray diversity and abundance, especially over long periods of time. This technique involves setting a line of 50 baited hooks in order to capture individuals and collect more specific measurements, tag the animal with a marker that will identify them in future captures or sightings, and collect a tissue sample for DNA and contaminant analysis. You will assist with baiting and setting the longline, collecting environmental data, and learning proper handling techniques for safely tagging and releasing sharks and rays.

• Turtle Tagging: Delve into sea turtle conservation as you learn the intricacies of safely capturing, tagging, and releasing these ancient mariners, contributing to our efforts to protect and preserve these remarkable creatures for future generations.

• Environmental DNA collection: Join us in the collection of eDNA through the deployment of one of two techniques that will help us assess the diversity and seasonality of marine species in the Pearls. You will be helping to set up the collections, deploy and record data, and undertake filtration if this method is used.

Arrive at Tocumen Airport, Panama City, by 1 PM local time

Afternoon & Evening

• 2:00 PM: Meet a MarAlliance Team member and Transfer to Albrook Airport

• 3:00 PM: Flight to Contadora Island

• 4:00 PM: Transfer and check into the hotel

• 5:00 PM: Review of monitoring methods, techniques, and equipment.

• 7:00 PM: Join Dr. Rachel Graham for an Expedition team dinner at the expedition staging site.

Morning

• 7:30 AM: Early morning breakfast at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site

• 8:30 AM: At-sea research activities and snorkeling. Refreshments will be available with a packaged lunch at one of the many islands neighbouring the sampling sites.

Afternoon

• 3:30 PM: Return to Contadora Island and enjoy an afternoon snack on Cacique Beach. Rest and clean up.

• 5:00 PM: Clean, review, and record collected data at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site.

Evening

• 6:00 PM: Team presentations by Dr. Rachel Graham and the MarAlliance team.

• 7:00 PM: Dinner with the expedition team.

Morning

• 7:30 AM: Early morning breakfast at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site

• 8:30 AM: At-sea research activities and snorkeling. Refreshments will be available with a packaged lunch at one of the many islands neighbouring the sampling sites.

Afternoon

• 3:30 PM: Return to Contadora Island and enjoy an afternoon snack on Cacique Beach. Rest and clean up.

• 5:00 PM: Clean, review, and record collected data at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site.

Evening

• 6:00 PM: Team presentations by Dr. Rachel Graham and the MarAlliance team.

• 7:00 PM: Dinner with the expedition team.

Morning

• 7:30 AM: Early morning breakfast at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site

• 9:00 AM: Whale watching, record sightings, and search for whale sharks.

Afternoon

• 1:00 PM: Return to Contadora Island and enjoy lunch at the expedition staging site.

• 4:00 PM: Wrap up the activities and research.

Evening

• 6:00 PM: Celebratory dinner with Dr. Rachel Graham to wrap up the expedition.

Morning

• 8:30 AM: Final breakfast at Casa Piles, our expedition staging site

• 9:30 AM: Transfer to the airstrip

• 10:00 AM: Flight to Albrook Airport, Panama City

• 11:00 AM: Land transfer to Tocumen Airport, Panama City.

Please note: Itineraries are a guide, not a guarantee. Research activities depend on weather and sea conditions and may be adjusted by our field team for safety.

From her early days growing up by the sea in Tunisia, Dr. Rachel Graham was drawn to research, conservation, and development across Latin America, Africa, and Micronesia. For over 30 years, she has worked with the private sector and organizations such as the United Nations, the University of York, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. In 2014, Rachel founded the international NGO MarAlliance to promote inclusive, grassroots science and marine conservation.

For over two decades, Rachel has lived in Belize and worked with fishers and partners in several countries to identify threats, research needs, and conservation opportunities for threatened marine wildlife and their critical habitats. Her work has driven megafauna research and conservation worldwide, and she actively serves on the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, co-founding several National Shark Advisory Committees to advance policy reform for elasmobranchs.

In recognition of her contributions, Rachel received the Whitley Fund for Nature Gold Award in 2011 and the Pew Marine Fellowship in 2021 for her shark research and conservation work. Rachel holds a BSc in Zoology from Oxford, an MSc from Edinburgh, and a PhD from the University of York, UK. She is especially proud of her two sons, who share her passion for fishing and marine conservation.