Is Malpelo Really Untouched? A Shark Sanctuary Paradox

So is Malpelo untouched? Not quite. The Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, a rocky island far off Colombia’s Pacific coast, is a no-take marine protected area. Studies of the Tropical Eastern Pacific have found high shark numbers at remote oceanic protected areas such as Malpelo.

Yet in July 2026, Colombia’s National Parks authority reported stopping illegal fishing inside the sanctuary. Both facts are true, and both belong in the same story.

What makes Malpelo important?

Its remote waters support large predators, including scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks and other open-ocean species.

A 2025 study compared seven Eastern Tropical Pacific protected areas using the same type of underwater cameras at each site. It found that remote oceanic sites had high shark abundance compared with several coastal sites.

Tracking studies add another layer. Hammerheads may use Malpelo and also move between oceanic islands. Their lives reach far beyond a single line on a park map.

What does protection not solve by itself?

A protected area can restrict harmful activity in a defined space. It cannot make illegal fishing impossible. It cannot stop animals from crossing boundaries. And it cannot make every species respond in the same way.

Enforcement and research are ongoing needs, especially in remote places where patrols take time and fuel. The word “untouched” can hide all the people doing that work.

What should a visitor take from this?

If you are researching a Malpelo trip, think beyond the iconic shark image. Ask the operator about their experience, their safety systems and the current access rules. Ask how they talk about wildlife encounters. Rules can change, so check locally.

A place known for sharks still cannot promise which species will appear or how close they will come.

For me, the conservation story is more moving when it stays honest. Malpelo is a major refuge for marine life, and protecting it takes active work. That is a much better reason to care than pretending the ocean has escaped every pressure.

Questions people ask

Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Diving with sharks should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance. Encounters are never guaranteed and never forced. Ocean Calling works only with vetted, ethical local operators, and every animal is free to approach, or not, entirely on its own terms.