Shark Breeding sites identified in Galapagos
July 22, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Hammerhead Shark in Galapagos
Diving with sharks is the number one reason that divers come to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos is home to a variety of sharks including hammerheads, Galapagos Sharks, whale sharks, black tipped, white tipped, silky, bull sharks, catsharks and many more.
Sharks are amazing animals. Globally 100 million sharks are killed a year commercially and for sport. Sharks are a vital part to a healthy marine ecosystem. Preservation and conservation of sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve is of the utmost importance. A coalition task force including members from national park, scientists, international conservation organizations, the Darwin Foundation and local fisherman has been established to monitor and identify potential breeding areas for sharks within the Galapagos.
They have identified four breeding sites near Santa Cruz: Tortuga Bay, Garrapatero, Saca Calzón y Punta Rocafuerte. Additionally they have identified both Punta Rocafuerte, Santa Cruz and Puerto Grande, San Cristobal as breeding sites for hammerhead sharks.
The research is including the monitoring of sharks at each site and monitoring of the heights, weights and number of sharks. Further research will include migration patters, movement between sites and reproduction cycles gaining a better understanding of sharks and their activity within the Galapagos.
