Cocos Island lies 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica in the eastern tropical Pacific. Another 400 miles south are the Galapagos Islands. Both are considered safe havens for wildlife, and the waters surrounding each area are protected.
Cocos Island lies 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica in the eastern tropical Pacific. Another 400 miles south are the Galapagos Islands. Both are considered safe havens for wildlife, and the waters surrounding each area are protected.
Cesar Penaherrera
Between the two islands is a busy underwater highway for migratory fish. Species such as sea turtles and sharks move back and forth between the marine reserves, looking for places to nest or foraging for food.
Between the two islands is a busy underwater highway for migratory fish. Species such as sea turtles and sharks move back and forth between the marine reserves, looking for places to nest or foraging for food.
Nonie Silver
But the underwater highway is open to fishing activities, and with populations of the migratory species declining, scientists and conservationists are campaigning for the entire swimway to be protected. <br />
But the underwater highway is open to fishing activities, and with populations of the migratory species declining, scientists and conservationists are campaigning for the entire swimway to be protected.
Nonie Silver
MigraMar, a network of scientists and environmental groups, has built a strong case for protecting the swimway, by documenting the species that use it. They have attached satellite and acoustic tags to individual species, like the whale shark pictured, so that they are able to follow their migratory pathway.
MigraMar, a network of scientists and environmental groups, has built a strong case for protecting the swimway, by documenting the species that use it. They have attached satellite and acoustic tags to individual species, like the whale shark pictured, so that they are able to follow their migratory pathway.
Jonathan Green
"We now have six species documented that are moving between these two islands," says Todd Steiner, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network and a founding member of MigraMar. "We suspect there's even more."
"We now have six species documented that are moving between these two islands," says Todd Steiner, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network and a founding member of MigraMar. "We suspect there's even more."
Alex Hearn
Steiner adds that the marine reserves surrounding Cocos Island and the Galapagos, pictured here, are good at protecting resident species, but not highly migratory ones.
Steiner adds that the marine reserves surrounding Cocos Island and the Galapagos, pictured here, are good at protecting resident species, but not highly migratory ones.
Shutterstock
The route between Cocos and Galapagos follows a chain of seamounts, or underwater mountains, which sharks and turtles rely on for navigation. They are also rich with life, providing vital resting and feeding spots during the long journey.
The route between Cocos and Galapagos follows a chain of seamounts, or underwater mountains, which sharks and turtles rely on for navigation. They are also rich with life, providing vital resting and feeding spots during the long journey.
Nonie Silver
Endangered green turtles have been found to move between the islands, as they nest in the Galapagos and forage in the Cocos.
Endangered green turtles have been found to move between the islands, as they nest in the Galapagos and forage in the Cocos.
Nonie Silver
Leatherback turtles, which are listed as vulnerable, also use the route. One of the greatest threats to their survival is being caught accidentally by fishing boats or getting entangled in nets.
Leatherback turtles, which are listed as vulnerable, also use the route. One of the greatest threats to their survival is being caught accidentally by fishing boats or getting entangled in nets.
Doug Perrine
Scalloped hammerhead sharks travel in schools between the islands. The species is considered critically endangered, with fishing as its main threat. Scientists say that protecting the swimway could help to keep population levels up.
Scalloped hammerhead sharks travel in schools between the islands. The species is considered critically endangered, with fishing as its main threat. Scientists say that protecting the swimway could help to keep population levels up.
Manuel Yepez
Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world and also endangered, are highly migratory. During an expedition in 2020, scientists tagged a whale shark, named Coco, near Darwin's arch in the Galapagos. Around a month later, Coco arrived at Cocos Island, confirming that the species migrates along the swimway.
Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world and also endangered, are highly migratory. During an expedition in 2020, scientists tagged a whale shark, named Coco, near Darwin's arch in the Galapagos. Around a month later, Coco arrived at Cocos Island, confirming that the species migrates along the swimway.
Jonathan Green
Most recently, scientists discovered evidence of a tiger shark using the swimway, as a <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocearch.org%2Ftracker%2Fdetail%2Fyolanda" target="_blank" target="_blank">nine-foot-long</a> female that scientists had tagged in the Galapagos seven years ago surfaced at Cocos Island. As tiger sharks are one of the top predators in the Pacific, their existence is vital to the survival of the entire ecosystem.
Most recently, scientists discovered evidence of a tiger shark using the swimway, as a nine-foot-long female that scientists had tagged in the Galapagos seven years ago surfaced at Cocos Island. As tiger sharks are one of the top predators in the Pacific, their existence is vital to the survival of the entire ecosystem.
Nonie Silver