The Mexican government has expanded the management plan for the whale shark sanctuary in the Mexican Caribbean. The waters to the north of Holbox and the zone of deeper “blue water” to the east of Contoy and Isla Mujeres are now included in addition to the Whale Shark Biosphere Reserve that was created in 2009.
This decree protects the transition zone between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, an area of upwellings rich in nutrients that attracts species such as the whale shark and manta ray during the summer months to feed on the plankton that proliferates due to the higher temperatures.
