Blue shark tagging in the Galápagos Marine Reserve
Project Leader
This project aims to quantify the residency of blue sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the role that Marine Protected Areas for the conservation of wide-ranging pelagic sharks
Beyond Marine Protected Areas
The Galapagos Marine Reserve provides key habitat for many threatened shark species, but for those that are highly nomadic or migratory, it is necessary to devise conservation strategies that go beyond the boundaries of the reserve. One such species is the blue shark, which is present in the open water habitat of the reserve, but whose movements are on the scale of hundreds of kilometers, into international waters. In some cases, we have confirmed that these sharks are caught by industrial fishing vessels once they leave the protected waters around Galápagos.
PROJECT LEADER
Alex Hearn
Dr. Alex Hearn is a Professor and Researcher at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). He has worked in Galapagos since 2002 and he spearheaded the development of the Shark Research Program since 2006. He is a founding member of the MigraMar network, whose goal is to provide the scientific knowledge required to protect migratory marine species in the Eastern Pacific. Alex has over 70 publications and is a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion for Galapagos. His current projects include using acoustic and satellite telemetry to establish the migratory pathways of sharks, evaluating the movement ecology of the pelagic assemblage around oceanic islets, and monitoring shark nursery grounds.
Expedition Blue Shark
In January 2026, our team will set sail on board a local fishing vessel to an area of open waters between the islands of Isabela and Floreana, in the southern part of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Here, a deep canyon runs from the Galapagos platform down to depths of over 2000 m. This is where we have successfully tagged blue sharks in the past. We expect to place satellite trackers on five adult blue sharks and to track their movements for at least three months.
Together with our existing tracks, the data will allow us to make predictions about where suitable habitat for this species can be found in the region. Once we know this, we can identify what threats to the sharks exist within this habitat and explore options to mitigate those threats. Our project feeds into a regionwide effort to effectively protect our shared marine ecosystem and its threatened migratory species.
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