SPECIAL THANKS TO
OUR PARTNERS
MEET THE TEAM
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE
GABY BERTRAND
PROGRAM MANAGER
After finishing her degree in Art History, Gaby was planning to come to Utila for only a few months in 2017 to become a PADI scuba instructor, but she never left. After working as a full-time instructor for over 5 years in Utila, she decided to orient her career toward marine conservation and has been the Program Manager at WSORC since June 2022. Gaby knows the reef surrounding Utila like the back of her hands and has witnessed all the changes happening to our ecosystem over the years, making it one of the reasons why she decided to get more involved in educating the next generation of conservationists. She is a PADI Master Instructor as well as an Operator for the Utila Hyperbaric Chamber. For her, the best thing about working at WSORC, other than swimming with Whalesharks!, is that she loves to spend a whole month teaching and showing every single intern why the ocean is so important to protect and making them aware of how lucky we are to live on the blue planet.
Meaghan Olton
RESEARCH COORDINATOR & MARINE BIOLOGIST
Meaghan Olton was born and raised in the vibrant multicultural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, where her passion for the ocean was ignited by the waters that surrounded her island home. From a young age, she found solace and inspiration in the nature that surrounded her, sparking a deep-rooted curiosity about marine life and ecosystems. Driven by her love for the sea, Meaghan pursued a Bachelor's degree in Coast and Ocean Sciences at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Throughout her academic journey, she immersed herself in the study of marine biology, ecology, and conservation, determined to make a meaningful impact in safeguarding the world's oceans. Drawing from her experiences working with Non-Profit groups with focus on marine turtles and their nesting sites back in Trinidad and Tobago, she developed a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between marine species and their habitats, as well as the people living in surrounding communities.
Beyond her role as a researcher and conservationist, Meaghan is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of marine scientists, particularly aspiring women from underrepresented backgrounds. She believes in the power of education and mentorship to inspire positive change and is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the field of marine conservation. Driven by her unwavering passion for the ocean and a desire to protect its wonders for future generations, Meaghan continues to lead by example, leaving a lasting legacy of conservation and stewardship in the waters of Utila and beyond.
ADRIANA SIERRA
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR & MARINE BIOLOGIST
Adriana grew up in the Pacific Coast of Honduras, therefore her interest for the ocean was always present which led her to get scuba certified at a young age in Utila. She holds a degree in Biology from University Côte d’Azur, where she particularly took interest in taking conservation and marine biology-related courses. After spending several years abroad and knowing how beautiful the reef in Utila is, Adriana decided to come back to Honduras because she wanted to get involved in the marine conservation field. When offered the Community Outreach Coordinator position at WSORC she gladly accepted the opportunity to help protect the ocean and strengthen the conservation culture.
OUR STORY
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, THIS IS WHO WE ARE.
WSORC have been gathering data on the whale shark population since 1997, and have a comprehensive sightings database. We have been granted the only research permit to study whale sharks in the country by the Honduran Environmental Department. Our team established whale shark encounter guidelines to promote responsible whale shark encounters, and in 2008 these guidelines were passed through the Honduran parliament to protect whale sharks by law.
BACKGROUND
Utila is one of the few places in the world that experiences whale shark sightings year-round, and is commonly known as a ‘hotspot’ for whale shark tourism. Although many stakeholders benefit from the presence of whale sharks on the island, little is known about the life cycle of this species, or the reasons why they frequent Utila in such numbers. In addition, whale sharks on Utila are threatened by the combined impacts of pollution, boat collisions and irresponsible whale shark tourism, which might affect their long term population dynamics.
OUR MISSION
WSORC was established to increase the presence and availability of researchers in Honduras to work with whale sharks. Our aim is to gather data on whale sharks and their environmental conditions to answer some of the fundamental questions about this species such as:
-
What attracts whale sharks to Utila and when are they most abundant?
-
Is the number of whale sharks visiting Utila increasing or decreasing?
-
How can our community reduce its impacts on whale sharks while continuing to benefit from their presence?
OUR PROGRAMS
RESEARCH
Collecting data on whale shark individuals, oceanic conditions and the surrounding coral reefs to better understand their dynamics
OUTREACH
Promoting responsible whale shark tourism, raising of awareness of conservation issues, and educating local school children about the sea
Training volunteers with the skills necessary to pursue marine conservation careers in the Caribbean
Expeditions that educate participants about the marine environment while actively contributing to conservation efforts on Utila.
HOW TO HELP
BE PART OF THE GLOBAL SOLUTION
WSORC is an NGO – registered Honduran Non Profit Organization.
We have the knowledge, the location and the desire to make a real difference for the oceans, the people of Utila, and the world… Please help us achieve our and your goals. Would you like to help sponsor whale shark research and/or education on Utila? WSORC welcomes all contributions/donations towards our programs. Sponsors will be included in the next WSORC newsletter and their names/photos will be placed on our website.
It is simple and easy to make a contribution through PayPal. The contribution will be processed through the Bay Islands Dive Centre paypal account, our sister organisation, which will then be transferred to WSORC.
DONATE
Make a donation to the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Centre using the box below or send an email to info@wsorc.org. Donations are processed through the Pay Pal account of our sister organisation, the Bay Islands College of Diving. Proceeds of all donations are directed towards our research and community outreach efforts on Utila.
