Nat Geo disembarked in Maldonado and is preparing a documentary on marine fauna.

This Sunday, the ROU 23 Maldonado Oceanic Patrol vessel set sail from the port of La Paloma, with the National Geographic team and the Organization for the Conservation of Cetaceans (OCC).

This is a ten-day expedition, which aims to record the marine wealth of our ocean coasts and to position Uruguay in marine conservation issues, as explained by the Nat Geo team that arrived in the country.

The work will be carried out on the coasts of Maldonado and Rocha and a documentary on the subject will be filmed. The project arose at the request of the Healthy Oceans Organization, the OCC and Nat Geo, which presented the proposal to the Maldonado and Rocha municipalities and the Ministry of the Environment.

The Nat Geo and OCC scientists will work with cameras prepared to record on the surface and others suitable for recording at a depth of 7,000 meters. Alex Muñoz, director of National Geographic Pristine Seas Latin America and leader of the expedition, told the Efe news agency that the equipment "will help us to see what kind of biodiversity is found in this area, which we have been told is very rich in marine species".

According to Muñoz, this technology will make it possible to obtain "unprecedented images" and a technical report will be prepared on the findings of this expedition.

In the local presentation, it was emphasized that Maldonado has a large reserve of mussel and coral banks. In addition, the importance of preserving the "lemon fish" was mentioned, a species that is highly coveted by fishermen arriving from Argentina, according to the general coordinator of Environmental Management of the Maldonado Municipality, Carlos Medina, who told the newspaper.

Another aspect related to preservation policies is the prohibition of trawling nets, which have a negative impact on coral banks, and other illegal fishing activities carried out on our ocean coasts.

Medina also spoke about Sarda shark fishing, following the controversy that is generated every summer in Punta del Este. The official said that he talked about the issue with the organizations that carry out the exhibition and recalled that in Uruguay there are no records of shark attacks. "We will work in the future on the issue of fishing of this species and we will listen, to see what measure can be taken," said Medina.

Ecotourism in Isla de Lobos

On the other hand, taking advantage of the visit of the Nat Geo team and the international organizations, the Directorates of Tourism and Environmental Management of the Municipality of Maldonado proposed an ecotourism project on Isla de Lobos. Currently there are boat trips and anchoring near the island and some people even dare to swim with the wolves.

The proposal of the Municipality of Maldonado includes a "tourist circuit", in which boats can disembark, tour and return to port. In addition, guided tours are planned, to observe the sea lion reserve; documentaries on the history of the island and the old sea lion factories will also be shown. The authorities, according to Medina, see with "good eyes" that agreements are signed so that students of biology or environment can participate in the project.

"It is conservation tourism and it is within reach, with efforts of the national and departmental government it can be carried out in a short time," said Medina, who assures that this type of project would not negatively impact the wolves and their habitat.

Source: La Diaria