In La Ventana, Baja California Sur, tourists are increasingly engaging in swimming with orcas, creating a bustling and chaotic environment on the water. This activity takes advantage of legal loopholes that protect marine wildlife yet has led to significant ecological concerns. Operators, both local and foreign, compete to offer this experience to growing numbers of tourists, resulting in overcrowded waters and potential threats to orca welfare. Marine biologist Georgina Saad expresses alarm at the unsustainable rise in orca swimming expeditions, indicating serious implications for both wildlife and local regulations.
"We thought it was a great thing at the beginning but it has become kind of a nightmare... since there are no authorities or rules, anyone can do whatever they want."
"Local fishing boats, some without insurance or the proper licences, are competing with bigger foreign-owned companies... guaranteeing tourists the chance to swim with orcas.
"Increasing numbers of people are swimming with the whales, meaning dozens of boats are zooming around the animals... especially problematic in May and June, the busiest months for orca swimming trips."
"Georgina Saad, a marine biologist, is worried about where all this may lead as the activity exploits loopholes in Mexican laws that protect endangered marine wildlife."
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