Tell us about yourself

My name is Maria Serra, I am 24 years old and I am from Barcelona. I studied Biology and Environmental Sciences and now I am a whale watching guide.

Where did your whale love start?

I all started when I was a kid, I think I was 11 or 12 years old. By the age of 14 I convinced my parents to go on a weekend expedition in the Mediterranean Sea looking for whales and then I saw my first one: a Fin whale.

What current ocean conservation issue do you feel most strongly about?

Entanglement and plastic ingestion. Working in Baja California Sur I spotted a Humpback whale calf with a net around its pectoral fin. I know many whales die due to entanglement and I believe it is an awful way to die, with a lot of suffering. The same happens with plastic ingestion, specially with Sperm whales, which are the whales I usually see during the summertime in the Azores.

What have you changed in your life to help save whales? 

In my daily activities, I am very careful about plastic consumption: I always choose the plastic-free options. At work, I try to raise awareness spreading the word and teaching people about whales and their threatens.

What advice would you give to others to take steps in their lives to help whales?

I believe that the most important thing is to keep a clean environment, so I always encourage people to consume wisely regarding that matter, less plastic, less trash, less carbon emissions, be careful with fish sources as big industry destroys the ocean.

Any whale tales to share?

Lots! You will see them on the website, but I really like those encounter where the whales get curious and approach the boat and, of course, the ones with Orcas involved.