Wayuu Fishers Shift Shark Practices to Protect Coastal Food Sources in Colombia

Indigenous-led shark conservation in Colombia’s La Guajira department preserves marine biodiversity critical for food security in vulnerable coastal communities.

Wayuu fishers in Colombia’s La Guajira department, representing 50 families in Punta Gallinas, have shifted from artisanal longlines to larger-mesh nets since Colombia’s 2021 ban on targeted shark fishing. This transition, supported by Proyecto Puyuii co-founded by Felipe González and Wilfrido Arends, avoids juvenile shark bycatch while preserving species like the endangered blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus). Colombia’s 2024 law permits incidental bycatch of 15 shark species but prohibits directed hunting—a practice that historically saw shark fins traded for ~50,000 pesos ($15/kg) in coastal towns.

The conservation effort directly sustains subsistence: shark meat provides critical protein for traditional dishes like salpicón, while carcass oil and liver support cooking and cough remedies. This shift follows the disappearance of sea turtles from Punta Gallinas due to historical overconsumption, prompting conservation to prevent similar ecological collapse.

For food security in this coastal community, the project maintains protein access while reducing pressure on vulnerable marine species. However, no mercury assessments have been conducted in Punta Gallinas shark meat, though project leads suggest potential low levels. The 2024 law still permits incidental bycatch, meaning continued monitoring of shark populations and mercury safety is essential to ensure this practice remains both ecologically and nutritionally sustainable. What follows will depend on verified mercury testing and compliance with the bycatch allowance under Colombia’s revised law.

Source: Mongabay