Latitude Living: Katy Ayres
Meet Katy Ayres! PhD student, National Geographic explorer and ocean lover, she’s been living the Latitude life since May of this year and we always enjoy having her onboard. Katy Joins us as much as she can on some of our trips during shark season to share her knowledge about sharks and provide education to you all. Maybe you will be lucky and get to meet her next season.
Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Katy Ayres and I am a PhD student in Marine Sciences and a National Geographic Explorer. I am originally from England but I moved to La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico to pursue my dream to study sharks.
Since when did you work in the marine field, how did you get there?
I have been obsessed with sharks ever since I was a very small child even though I was brought up nowhere near the sea. They terrified me but at the same time I was fascinated by them. When I learnt how many sharks are killed each year (over 100 million) and how few shark attacks there really are on humans I knew I wanted to help protect them. My mum told me that it was possible to become a marine biologist and to work with sharks when I grew up. So, I took sciences at school and after I travelled to Australia to become a Divemaster. I then went to university and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Marine Vertebrate Zoology, followed by a few years of travelling and volunteering with shark and marine life conservation projects. This brought me to Mexico where I did my Masters research and interned with a marine conservation NGO called Pelagios Kakunja. I then returned to start my PhD to study sharks in Cabo Pulmo National Park, a marine protected area in the Gulf of California. I received a grant towards my research from the National Geographic Society and from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and I have been studying sharks ever since!
Image by Miguel Grau
Share a bit about what you do:
My research focuses on a shark species known as the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus). The fishermen in Mexico call them ‘Sardineros’ as they are often seen hunting sardines. In winter they form large aggregations in Cabo Pulmo, this is due to the vast amount of food available for them as it is an area that has been protected from fishing by the local community. At Pelagios Kakunja, we study these sharks using drones where we record the aggregations from the sky and at times numbers reach over 1000 individuals. We also tag the sharks with acoustic transmitters that are detected by underwater hydrophones so we know when the sharks were in the national park. We have also managed to tag some sharks with satellite tags, these tags are attached to the dorsal fin and record where the sharks swim. We have found that the sharks migrate from Cabo Pulmo in the summer, but unfortunately many don’t return in winter as they are caught in artisanal fisheries that target sharks for their meat which is consumed locally in Mexico.
How did you find out about Latitude Encounters?
I first heard about Fernanda through several mutual friends who told me she was a great underwater guide and free diver. I heard she was setting up her own business Latitude Encounters offering pelagic expeditions and shark diving and as a fellow shark lover, I just had to get involved. She is passionate about science, education, and conservation and her tours provide a platform to collect important data on the animals that are encountered.
What has been the trip/expedition with Latitude that you remember the most?
My favorite trip with Latitude was in May, the sea was rough and the wind was high but the water was divinely clear, warm and blue! We had four silky sharks turn up which had beautiful bright pilot fish following them. The sharks were curious and interactive. Many clients on the boat had never seen a shark before and I love to experience the moment anyone sees a shark for the first time. At first, the clients were nervous but as they realise that the sharks are only really interested in the bait at the end of the line, they start to relax and enjoy the beauty of these perfectly evolved creatures.
Scuba diving with bull sharks in Cabo Pulmo. Image by Miguel Grau
What has been the marine encounter that you feel has impacted you the most?
My favorite marine encounters have been in Cabo Pulmo National Park, seeing the hundreds of sharks close to the shoreline for the first time is something I will never forget. You can also scuba dive with a resident population of bull sharks. The sharks are magnificent and can get pretty close to you, but as soon as you exhale, they are deterred by the bubbles from the scuba gear. This is why I enjoy experiencing sharks while freediving and snorkeling as they get closer to you and you are more agile in the water.
What is your favorite (marine) animal? Why?
My favorite marine animal has to be the blacktip shark as I have dedicated the last 4 years of my life studying them. My second favorite are humpback whales. They arrive to Cabo in winter and I have had some magical experiences whale watching with Latitude in the previous whale season.
What would you say to someone who has never been underwater?
For anyone who has never been underwater, I would say get in!! I suggest no matter what age, young or old it is never too late to discover the beauty of the ocean. It is another world within this planet and it is something everyone should be able to experience. People care about and protect the things that they love and the ocean really needs our protection. The more people we can get to fall in love with the ocean and its creatures the more chance we have of conserving it.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge that exists in terms of marine conservation?
The biggest challenge in marine conservation is getting everyone involved and sharing information. Marine conservation has many areas, not just science and it is important that the industry is inclusive of all minorities not only the ones who are privileged enough to be able to volunteer on science projects to gain the experience needed. We also need scientists, the public, the tourism sector, the government, fishermen and all the stakeholders of the marine resources to work together in finding sustainable ways to take from the sea without taking too much, without threatening people’s livelihoods and without threatening vulnerable species at the same time. It is a big challenge, even bigger still is climate change as marine species must adapt to ocean acidification and rising temperatures. If we can reduce our production of carbon emissions and the threats caused by overfishing and habitat destruction, species might have a chance to deal with the climate that has already started to change.
What message do you want to leave us?
The message I would like to leave to everyone is to go experience sharks in the wild. It is different to a safari on land where you watch animals from a far - you can be completely accepted into their world. Swimming alongside a shark will change your perception of them forever.
Scuba diving with sharks in Revillagigedo. Image by Julie Barrett
