Tiburón Ballena Bahía de los Ángeles is a family-run conservation effort born in Bahía de los Ángeles.

Our story began in 1992, when my father (Abraham) started documenting and researching the whale sharks that visit these waters each summer. I (Vanessa) was born the year before, so I grew up surrounded by conversations about whale sharks, and days spent searching the bay. By the age of five, I swam with my first whale shark, a moment that shaped the course of my life.

For many years, whale shark monitoring has been a true community effort involving local residents, fishermen, students, and volunteers who share a commitment to understanding and protecting these animals. Today, I lead much of that work with the continued support of my father, our partners, interns and volunteers.