Trusted Ad Partner
Marine: Global tracking effort maps critical hotspots for ocean giants
6 June 2025
By James Hamilton
By James Hamilton
Image by Daniel Torobekov
In a major step forward for marine conservation, a global team of nearly 400 scientists has tracked over 100 species of marine megafauna - such as whales, sharks, turtles, and seals - to identify the ocean’s most vital habitats. The findings, led by researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), spotlight key regions that demand urgent protection to safeguard these iconic species.
The groundbreaking project, called MegaMove, brings together experts from over 50 countries in a first-of-its-kind global collaboration endorsed by the United Nations.
By analysing the movement patterns of marine megafauna across the world’s oceans, the team has pinpointed areas where these animals feed, rest, and migrate - regions that are also under significant threat from human activities like fishing, shipping, pollution, and climate change.
Associate Professor Ana Sequeira, marine ecologist at ANU and lead author of the study said: “Marine megafauna are essential to ocean ecosystems, yet they’re increasingly at risk. Our goal was to understand where these animals go, and how we can better protect the places they rely on.”
Currently, only 8% of the ocean is protected under marine conservation zones. The UN’s High Seas Treaty, signed by 115 countries but not yet ratified, aims to increase that to 30%. While researchers support the treaty’s ambitions, the study warns that even this target won’t fully protect all the critical areas these species depend on.
“Thirty percent is a great step - but not the whole solution,” Sequeira explained. “We’ll also need additional strategies to reduce threats outside of protected zones, like safer fishing gear, smarter shipping lanes, and reducing plastic pollution.”
Published in the journal Science, the study aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s mission to prevent human-driven extinctions.
Sequeira, who was awarded a 2024 Honorific Award from the Australian Academy of Science for her work on species like the whale shark, founded MegaMove in 2020. The project has since grown into a leading international force for marine megafauna conservation.
Study co-lead Dr. Jorge Rodríguez, from Spain’s Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos, emphasised the importance of the findings: “We’ve ranked the most critical ocean zones based on how many species use them for essential behaviors like migration and breeding. This helps focus protection where it’s needed most.”
Ultimately, the study is a call to action for governments, conservationists, and ocean lovers alike: protecting marine megafauna will require both expanding marine protected areas and adopting practical solutions to reduce human impact across the seas.
Image by Silvana Palacios
📚 OTHER POPULAR STORIES TO READ:
Next article: Five essential tips when choosing a new nest box for your garden
Next article: SWAROVSKI OPTIK release light and compact ATC/STC spotting scopes
Next article: Five of our favourite springtime wildlife sights and sounds
Next article: Six of the best RSPB nature reserves to watch owls in the UK
Next article: The best nature reserves to head to in the cold weather
Next article: Endangered tansy beetle hides out at WWT Welney
Next article: Five essential tips when choosing a new nest box for your garden
Next article: SWAROVSKI OPTIK release light and compact ATC/STC spotting scopes
Next article: Five of our favourite springtime wildlife sights and sounds
Next article: Six of the best RSPB nature reserves to watch owls in the UK
Next article: The best nature reserves to head to in the cold weather
Next article: Endangered tansy beetle hides out at WWT Welney