Protecting Sharks And The People That Depend On Them With Gaby Ochoa, Ep. 100 Forces For Nature podcast

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Protecting Sharks and the People that Depend on Them with Gaby Ochoa, Ep. 100

1d ago 46:17

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This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

In 2011, Honduras declared all its waters a shark sanctuary. On paper, it looked like a major conservation win. But for the Indigenous Miskito fishers who had relied on sharks for generations, the law came without consultation- turning long-standing practices into crimes overnight.

My guest, Gabriela “Gaby” Ochoa, is a Honduran marine biologist and founder of Ilili, an organization named after the Miskito word for “shark.” Ilili is working to flip the script on top-down conservation by putting local communities at the center of decision-making. From training fishers in scientific methods, to blending traditional knowledge with modern science, to navigating the complexities of shark sanctuaries, Gaby’s work offers a powerful example of what conservation looks like when it’s truly locally driven.

Highlights

What was the paradox of Honduras’ shark sanctuary and why did top-down conservation backfire here.
How to build trust with fishers and transform them into collaborators and co-researchers.
The emotional challenges of shark conservation and the small wins that keep Gaby going.

What YOU Can Do

Listen first. Conservation that lasts begins by hearing all perspectives, especially those most impacted.
Find citizen science opportunities by you. And, if you are in Honduras, report shark and ray sightings through Ilili’s website.
Remember that conservation isn’t about telling people what to do. It’s about empowering local communities to lead.
Shop to support Ilili

Resources

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