Global study maps critical marine megafauna zones using tracking data

• A new study published in Science and co-led by IFISC scientists identifies the most critical ocean regions for the conservation of marine megafauna using geolocation data and movement algorithms.
• The research applies network science and complex systems modeling to map migratory corridors and residential zones shared by multiple species across the global ocean.

A new study published in Science and endorsed by the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science identifies key regions of the global ocean essential for the conservation of marine megafauna. The research is part of the MegaMove initiative, a large-scale collaborative effort involving nearly 400 scientists from 50 countries, and tracks the movements of over 100 marine species, such as whales, sharks, turtles, and seals, using geolocation data and movement algorithms.

The IFISC team, including Jorge P. Rodríguez and Víctor M. Eguíluz, applied network science and complex systems modeling to quantify habitat connectivity and determine which regions are most essential for supporting multiple species simultaneously. According to Rodríguez, “our analysis identifies which regions of the global ocean are used as residential areas or migratory corridors. To decide which zones should be protected, we ranked them by prioritizing the most important behaviors for the largest number of species”.

The research reveals that areas associated with critical behaviors, such as foraging, resting, and migration, occupy around 66% of the total space used by these animals. However, only 8% of the world’s oceans are currently covered by marine protected areas. While the UN High Seas Treaty, signed by 115 countries but still pending ratification, proposes increasing protection to 30%, the study concludes that this would still leave 60% of critical zones exposed to threats such as ocean warming, fishing pressure, plastic pollution, and maritime traffic. “As our results show, protecting only 30% of the ocean would still leave 60% of the most critical areas vulnerable to human threats”, adds Rodríguez.

In addition to identifying high-priority conservation areas, the study calls for complementary mitigation strategies. These include modifying fishing gear, implementing ship traffic schemes, and using deterrent lights in nets to reduce human impact on marine megafauna.

This research aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Goal A), contributing to global strategies aimed at halting human-induced extinction of threatened species and improving data-driven marine conservation.

Ana M. M. Sequeira et al., Global tracking of marine megafauna space use reveals how to achieve conservation targets. Science 388, 1086-1097(2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adl0239

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