Pelagios Kakunjá
Pelagios Kakunjá is a Mexican non-profit research organization that studies migratory sharks and giant manta rays across the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific using acoustic telemetry, BRUVS, and satellite tagging, serving marine conservation donors, artisanal fishing communities transitioning to ecotourism, graduate students, and Mexican government agencies managing marine protected areas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Luis De La Paz, Mexico
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Pelagios Kakunjá does
Pelagios Kakunjá, A.C. is a Mexican non-profit civil association founded in 2010 (with predecessor research activity since 2003) by Dr. Mauricio Hoyos and Dr. James Ketchum, headquartered in La Paz, Baja California Sur. The organization conducts scientific research on migratory marine species — primarily sharks and giant manta rays — across the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific, with field sites at Revillagigedo Archipelago, Cabo Pulmo, Guadalupe Island, Magdalena Bay, Espíritu Santo, Islas Marías, and Clipperton Atoll, among others.
Its core methodology combines acoustic telemetry (underwater receiver arrays at 20–40 m depth with up to 500 m detection range), satellite tagging, Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) including a 24-hour continuous deployment configuration, drone photogrammetry surveys, photo-identification databases keyed to individual body markings, and ultrasound imaging for non-invasive reproductive assessment. These capabilities feed peer-reviewed scientific publications (50+ papers credited to Ketchum alone) and, most consequentially, the design of marine protected areas — most notably the 2017 extension of Revillagigedo National Park to 148,000 km², the largest MPA in North America.
The organization is funded entirely through donations, grants, and a direct-to-consumer symbolic adoption program ("Adopt a Shark"/"Adopt a Manta") with tiers ranging from digital certificates to ~$500+ satellite-tag sponsorships and a crowdfunding channel (typically $50 to $8,000 per contribution). It serves four primary stakeholder groups: the global marine conservation donor community, local artisanal fishing communities transitioning from shark fishing to ecotourism (notably at La Partida), graduate students and interns, and Mexican government agencies (CONANP, CONAPESCA) that consume the organization's research for MPA and fisheries management. Supplemented outreach products include the 2021 documentary "Sharks of the Sea of Cortés: A Lost Treasure?" (executive-produced by Sylvia Earle, screened at 20+ film festivals), the Amaukua Spanish-language educational comic series, white shark data posters, and best-practice interaction manuals. There is no software product, SaaS offering, or API-based service; the entire model is grant-and-donation-funded field research with diversified educational and media outputs.
Pelagios Kakunjá firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pelagios Kakunjá
- Legal name
- Pelagios Kakunjá, A.C.
- Website
- https://pelagioskakunja.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pelagios Kakunjá is a Mexican non-profit research organization that studies migratory sharks and giant manta rays across the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific using acoustic telemetry, BRUVS, and satellite tagging, serving marine conservation donors, artisanal fishing communities transitioning to ecotourism, graduate students, and Mexican government agencies managing marine protected areas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pelagios Kakunjá industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Research Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD)
Keywords
Where Pelagios Kakunjá is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Luis De La Paz
- HQ country
- Mexico
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pelagios Kakunjá business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations supporting shark research and conservation in Mexico. Includes crowdfunding campaigns for specific projects like the boat for shark ecotourism initiative.
- Adopt-a-Shark Program: Symbolic sponsorship of sharks and mantas where proceeds support tagging equipment, research initiatives, and media awareness campaigns. Tiers include digital adoption, shark advocate packages with satellite tagging participation.
- Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and conservation organizations including WWF, Carlos Slim Foundation, Mission Blue, Pew Charitable Trusts, and other environmental donors supporting specific research and conservation projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Adopt a Whale Shark |
| Other | — | Adopt a Hammerhead Shark |
| Other | — | Adopt a Bull Shark |
| Other | — | Donate Any Amount - Manta Ray |
| Other | — | Digital Adoption - Manta Ray |
| Other | — | Shark Advocate - Manta Ray ($500+) |
| Other | — | Crowdfunding Donation Tiers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Pelagios Kakunjá product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pelagios Kakunjá is a non-profit marine conservation research organization that studies migratory shark and giant manta populations in the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific using acoustic telemetry, satellite tracking, BRUVS, photo-ID, and drone surveys. The organization generates scientific data to inform the design and management of marine protected areas, including direct scientific input that contributed to the 148,000 km² Revillagigedo National Park. Its offerings include a symbolic Adopt-a-Shark sponsorship program, an award-winning documentary, an ecotourism and conservation crowdfunding initiative, a hands-on research internship program, and educational materials including a comic series and species data posters.
Product overview
Pelagios Kakunjá is a non-profit marine conservation research organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and educational products centered on shark research and protection in the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific. The core offerings include the Adopt a Shark symbolic sponsorship program (supporting whale shark, hammerhead shark, bull shark, and manta ray conservation), the award-winning documentary 'Sharks of the Sea of Cortés: A Lost Treasure?' (2021), and an Ecotourism and Conservation Crowdfunding initiative that helps transition local fishers to conservation-based livelihoods. Supporting products include an Internship Program providing hands-on field research experience, scientific publications, outreach articles, educational manuals and infographics, the White Shark DataPoster created with Data Mares, and the Amaukua children's comic series. The organization does not offer a software platform, SaaS product, or API-based services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adopt a Shark Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 148,000 km² marine protected area created based on shark movement research
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pelagios Kakunjá
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Pelagios Kakunjá technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Pelagios Kakunjá partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- WWF Mexico / Carlos Slim Foundation AlliancecoreWWF Mexico and Carlos Slim Foundation alliance supporting conservation efforts; WWF logos appear on donors page indicating partnership in marine conservation initiatives.
- Mission BluecoreMission Blue Hope Spot Champion partnership for Gulf of California; Dr. James Ketchum is a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion. Mission Blue has advocated for creation of marine protected areas.
- Fins Attached Marine Research and ConservationcoreCollaboration on shark research expeditions including tagging projects in Revillagigedo National Park onboard Sharkwater vessel. Joint scientific expeditions.
- ECOCIMATIcoreScientific advisory partnership in white shark research; participated as advisors with CONANP to analyze cage characteristics and develop new cage design recommendations for Guadalupe Island.
- CONANP (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas)coreGovernment partnership for marine protected area management; shark research used to inform protected area design and regulations.
- Acuario MichinminorCollaboration for conservation education; documentary screenings and Q&A sessions held at aquarium locations in Guadalajara and Puebla.
- Monterey Bay AquariummajorResearch partnership; Dr. Salvador Jorgensen from Monterey Bay Aquarium conducted lectures and collaborations with Pelagios.
- MigramarcoreInternational network of researchers in the Eastern Tropical Pacific; Dr. Ketchum co-founded MigraMar in 2006.
- Yacht Aid GlobalminorSponsored shark migration study expedition to Revillagigedo Archipelago and beyond.
- Manta TrustmajorCollaboration on manta ray research and conservation in Mexico; joint studies on manta behavior and tourism interactions.
- National Geographic SocietycoreFeatured in National Geographic documentaries including Shark Superhighway; Dr. James Ketchum is a National Geographic Explorer.
- CIBNORcoreResearch partnership with Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste; Dr. Ketchum is Adjunct Researcher at CIBNOR.
- CICIMAR-IPNcoreAcademic partnership with Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas for graduate student supervision and research collaboration.
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS)coreAcademic partnership for graduate research; students from UABCS participate in Pelagios research projects.
- Cabo Shark DiveminorTourism operator partnership for shark research methodology development; student Francisco Mascareño conducted research in collaboration with Cabo Shark Dive.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pelagios Kakunjá competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Island Conservation: International non-profit focused on preventing extinctions by removing invasive species from islands, with growing marine portfolio. Adjacent peer due to overlapping marine protected area and conservation policy work in Latin America.
Direct peers
- COBI (Comunidad y Biodiversidad): Mexican non-profit focused on marine conservation and community-based fisheries management in the Gulf of California and Mexican Caribbean. Comparable in geography, nonprofit structure, and participatory approach with local fishing communities.
- ECOCIMATI: Mexican scientific advisory group working on marine megafauna conservation, including co-advising CONANP on white shark cage design at Guadalupe Island with Pelagios Kakunjá (ref.). Comparable in species focus and government advisory role.
- Blue Marine Foundation: UK-based marine conservation foundation focused on creating marine reserves and restoring ocean ecosystems. Comparable in mission-driven nonprofit structure, science-to-policy approach, and global donor base.
- Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation: US-based non-profit conducting shark research and conservation, with which Pelagios Kakunjá has conducted joint tagging expeditions in Revillagigedo (ref.). Comparable in species focus, expedition-based research, and nonprofit funding model.
- MigraMar: International scientific network of researchers studying migratory marine species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, co-founded by Dr. James Ketchum in 2006. Highly comparable because of shared leadership, overlapping scientific mandate, and joint research sites including Revillagigedo and Cabo Pulmo.
- Manta Trust: UK-based charity coordinating global manta and mobulid ray research and conservation. A direct partner of Pelagios Kakunjá (ref.) and highly comparable in species focus, citizen science methodology, and ecotourism engagement.
- MarAlliance: Marine conservation organization focused on sharks, rays, and bony fish in coastal and remote ecosystems across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific. Comparable to Pelagios Kakunjá in species focus, community engagement, and reliance on partnerships with fishers and protected-area agencies.
- MarViva: Latin American marine conservation non-profit operating in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia with similar science-based marine protected area advocacy and community engagement. Comparable in non-profit structure, regional geography, and policy-driven mission.
Regional players
- Pronatura México: One of Mexico's largest conservation non-profits covering terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Comparable as a Mexican nonprofit in the conservation space, though much broader in scope and not focused exclusively on marine megafauna.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pelagios Kakunjá social profiles
Digital presencePelagios Kakunjá financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pelagios Kakunjá leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Pelagios Kakunjá funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pelagios Kakunjá M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pelagios Kakunjá
What does Pelagios Kakunjá do?
Pelagios Kakunjá is a non-profit marine conservation research organization that studies migratory shark and giant manta populations in the Gulf of California and Mexican Pacific using acoustic telemetry, satellite tracking, BRUVS, photo-ID, and drone surveys. The organization generates scientific data to inform the design and management of marine protected areas, including direct scientific input that contributed to the 148,000 km² Revillagigedo National Park. Its offerings include a symbolic Adopt-a-Shark sponsorship program, an award-winning documentary, an ecotourism and conservation crowdfunding initiative, a hands-on research internship program, and educational materials including a comic series and species data posters.
Is Pelagios Kakunjá a public or private company?
Pelagios Kakunjá is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pelagios Kakunjá founded?
Pelagios Kakunjá was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pelagios Kakunjá based?
Pelagios Kakunjá is headquartered in San Luis De La Paz, Mexico, in the Latin America region.
How does Pelagios Kakunjá make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are adopt-a-Shark Program and grant Funding.
Who are Pelagios Kakunjá's main competitors?
Island Conservation is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are COBI (Comunidad y Biodiversidad), ECOCIMATI, Blue Marine Foundation, Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation, MigraMar, Manta Trust, MarAlliance and MarViva. Pronatura México is listed as a regional player.
Does Pelagios Kakunjá have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pelagios Kakunjá.
What industry is Pelagios Kakunjá in?
Pelagios Kakunjá's product category is Marine Conservation Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks). Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 8731.