This is a critical time for sharks globally. They are facing increasing pressures from industrial fishing, habitat loss and plastic pollution. The Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is unique in its high concentration of shark species. We are supporting research that will ensure protection for these vulnerable sharks throughout their lifetime.
> 100 m
sharks harvested from our oceans globally every year by humans
700
adult female whale sharks pass through north of Galapagos every year
50
species of sharks and rays rely upon Galapagos for refuge and habitat
Every year, globally, humans harvest 100 million individual sharks from our oceans. Endangered species, including the scalloped hammerhead, dusky and whale shark, face threats from overfishing and bycatch. Recent research has also shown that the ingestion of microplastics may threaten the health of whale sharks and other filter-feeding marine species such as manta rays.
The GMR is home to the highest concentration of sharks in the world. It is a crucial location for Critically Endangered scalloped hammerheads and is one of the only places globally where large numbers still reside. Its whale shark population is also globally rare, with the vast majority mature females, as opposed to juvenile males found in other hotspots. Furthermore, of the females spotted in the GMR, over 90% appear to be pregnant, something that our partners are trying to determine for certain. When considering the lack of knowledge about whale shark reproductivity, it makes this unique population crucial to researching this species. Shallower waters in the GMR also provide important sites for blacktip shark pupping grounds and, in 2017, it was found that hammerhead sharks also have nursery sites in the GMR. These nursery grounds were designated in 2023 as one of the IUCN’s first Important Shark and Rays Areas (ISRAs), recognising their critical role in the lifecycle of a suite of threatened and poorly studied shark and ray species.
Many of the sharks found in the GMR are migratory, including whale and hammerhead sharks. Recent research has shown that some migratory sharks often move between the GMR and Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica. Once these sharks move outside of the protected waters of the GMR, they are extremely vulnerable to industrial fishing.
As part of Galapagos Conservation Trust’s Endangered Sharks of Galapagos programme, we are:
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The project aims to:
Please help us conserve the endangered sharks of Galapagos by donating today or by adopting a hammerhead shark.
"The Galapagos Marine Reserve is home to over 50 species of sharks and rays, yet there is very little data for rays in Galapagos."
This project is investigating three species of ray found in Galapagos, looking at their population dynamics and genetic connectivity in order to better understand their conservation needs.
"The whale shark is the world’s largest fish, reaching lengths of up to 20 metres, yet surprisingly little is known about it."
By tagging individual whale sharks, the project team is hoping to build a robust set of data that will tell us about their migration behaviour and inform future protections.
