Download Flash Player to watch this video. DR. PETE KLIMLEY (UC DAVIS) EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF DARWIN AND WOLF ISLANDS AS SHARK HOTSPOTS.

For centuries, humanity has gazed in awe at the huge migrations which sweep across entire continents – each year, millions of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle cross the African plains, huge flocks of birds cross the globe from breeding to feeding grounds…. And yet some of the most astonishing migrations on the planet take place un-noticed.

The ocean is home to vast schools of fish which migrate across vast distances, such as sharks and tunas. We do not yet fully understand the importance of these migrations, or the role that these species play in the marine ecoystem. But as overfishing increasingly affects their populations, there is a critical need for scientific information which can be translated into conservation and management policies.

Only by working together and breaking national barriers can we effectively protect these species.

The Migramar Network is committed to working together to:

		Understand the importance of marine protected areas and specific sites within them for sharks and other migratory species.
		Understand the regional migratory patterns of coastal-pelagic sharks.
		Assess the population status of sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
		Ensure that the results of our research are communicated to stakeholders and decisio-makers in a timely, transparent fashion.
		Provide local and national authorities with technical recommendations for the management and conservation of sharks and other migratory pelagic species.

The role in nature – and value to humans – of sharks

Sharks have inhabited the oceans for millions of years – since before the dinosaurs. In evolutionary terms, this makes them one of the most successful families of animals, and they provide a glimpse into an ancient past.

Sharks are key species of the marine ecosystem. As top predators, they drive natural selection processes, and are indicators of ecosystem health. By removing sharks, this can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the marine community, ending up with undesirable consequences which can affect us as humans, and our economic activities.

In recent years, sharks have become an important living resource , with an ever increasing number of dive tourists visiting the region to experience swimming in the midst of schools of hammerheads, or having a close encounter with the world´s biggest fish – the whale shark.

Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape

The Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape covers a huge area of over 211 million hectares, including waters belonging to Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, along with international waters and a series of oceanic islands which belong to these four countries.

The region is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, due to the confluence of several major oceanic currents – the warm Panama current from the north, the cool Humboldt current from the south, and the deep Cromwell current, which flows along the Equator at depth, and surfaces as it hits the Galápagos platform, creating upw elli ng conditions of high productivity.

Within the region, there are several large marine protected areas: the Galápagos Marine Reserve and Machalilla National Park ( Ecuador ), Malpelo and Gorgona Marine Reserves ( Colombia ), Cocos ( Costa Rica ) and Coiba ( Panamá ). As part of the Marine Corridor Initiative , research institutions from each of these areas came together, recognising that only through joint efforts could we contribute meaningfully to the conservation and sustainable use of the shared marine resources of the region.

There are 88 shark species recorded for the region, and several are mentioned in international treaties because of concern about their population status. In recent years, several studies have highlighted serious declines in shark populations due to overfishing.

Immediate threats: by-catch and shark finning

Sharks are vulnerable , due to their relatively slow growth, late onset of sexual maturity and low fecundity. Within the Eastern Tropical Pacific, sharks are threatened by fishing.

Although they are not target species for most fisheries, they tend to become hooked on open water longlines. In some areas, they are targeted for their fins, which are highly prized on the Chinese market. Illegal shark finning is even known to occur in protected areas such as the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The practice of shark finning is becoming more common in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, due to increayesng demand from the Ayesan market. Sharks are targeted, their fins are removed and the bodies are thrown back to the sea, because they occupy too much space and are of little economic importance. The main shark consumer is China , and over 125 countries export shark fins to China via Hong Kong .

Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and lower caudal fins are all used in the fin trade. Currently, a shark fin soup in a restaurant can cost up to US$100. The shark fins contain collagen fibres, which give the soup its consistency, although they do not contribute to either flavour or nutritional value.

It is not known how many sharks are finned each year, but estimates vary from 10-100 million.

The need for international, collaborative solutions based on sound scientific knowledge

The Eastern Tropical Pacific is still home to large populations of sharks and other marine pelagic species. However, in order to properly conserve and manage the populations of these highly migratory species, research must break national barriers.

Each country within the region has committed to developing National Action Plans for sharks, within the framework of the United Nations FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. However, at present, there is little information on which to base decisions, and there is increasing risk of conflict between stakeholders (fishers, conservationists, politicians) being based on perceptions rather than facts.

We aim to provide sound scientific evidence in order to facilitate discussions among stakeholders and allow them to work together towards a common goal: sustainable populations of top predators throughout the region.