A unique opportunity to advance tropical marine research in Belize

Join our team of marine biologists, guides, and traditional fishers in conducting unforgettable hands-on research with sharks, rays, turtles, and large finfish while contributing data that informs global conservation policy. 

Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize’s most secluded coral reef, is a sanctuary for a rich diversity of marine megafauna, including reef, lemon, and nurse sharks, occasional hammerheads, and key turtle species such as hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles. These sentinel species are vital indicators of ocean health and central to ongoing conservation efforts in the Caribbean.

Joining the Caribbean’s longest-running marine megafauna monitoring project, you’ll travel by boat and snorkel across this pristine atoll to record, measure, and track sharks, rays, and turtles using advanced monitoring technologies. Your work will make essential contributions to the conservation of these species while also supporting sustainable economic alternatives for former shark and turtle fishers who now play key roles in marine stewardship.

During the week, field work will be complemented by presentations by our research team, where we will share our data and findings with you.

Immerse yourself in the following scientific techniques:

• 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 during in-water visual transects and in analyzing Baited Remote Underwater Video recordings.

• In-water Visual Transect: Transects are a non-invasive method for assessing the diversity and relative abundance of marine megafauna. Each transect involves four swimmers positioned in the water and spaced 15 meters apart. Transects are 1km in length, and throughout the transect, each swimmer is responsible for recording species, quantity, distance estimation, and size estimation for the sharks, rays, turtles, and piscivorous fish they see within their area. You will learn species identification and size estimation techniques to accurately record data. Following field work, you can help to transcribe data to provide indices of species diversity, abundance, demographics, and size frequencies according to the different habitats sampled.

• 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 around the Bay Islands 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.

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