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Global tracking of marine megafauna space use reveals how to achieve conservation targets

  • Ana M.M. Sequeira
  • , Jorge P. Rodríguez
  • , Sarah A. Marley
  • , Hannah J. Calich
  • , Mirjam van der Mheen
  • , Michelle VanCompernolle
  • , Lucy M. Arrowsmith
  • , Lauren R. Peel
  • , Nuno Queiroz
  • , Marisa Vedor
  • , Ivo da Costa
  • , Gonzalo Mucientes
  • , Ana Couto
  • , Nicolas E. Humphries
  • , Sara Abalo-Morla
  • , Francisco J. Abascal
  • , Debra L. Abercrombie
  • , Katya Abrantes
  • , F. Alberto Abreu-Grobois
  • , André S. Afonso
  • Pedro Afonso, Heidi Ahonen, Susanne Åkesson, Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto, Russel D. Andrews, Frédéric Angelier, Marina Antonopoulou, Javier A. Arata, Gonzalo Araujo, Randall Arauz, José Manuel Arcos, Igor Arregui, Haritz Arrizabalaga, Marie Auger-Méthé, Steffen Bach, Fred Bailleul, Robin W. Baird, George H. Balazs, Susan G. Barco, Adam Barnett, Warren Baverstock, Alastair M.M. Baylis, Annalea Beard, Juan Bécares, Eduardo J. Belda, Ian Bell, Ashley Bennison, Scott R. Benson, Diego Bernal, Michael L. Berumen, Sandra Bessudo, Natalia P.A. Bezerra, Antonin V. Blaison, Gabriela S. Blanco, Barbara A. Block, Mark Bolton, Mark E. Bond, Ramón Bonfil, Camrin D. Braun, Annette C. Broderick, Michael de L. Brooke, Annabelle M.L. Brooks, Edward J. Brooks, Ignacio M. Bruno, Jennifer M. Burns, Michael E. Byrne, Steven E. Campana, Hamish A. Campbell, Richard A. Campbell, Aaron Carlisle, Ruth H. Carmichael, Gemma Carroll, Paolo Casale, Filipe R. Ceia, Demian D. Chapman, Taylor K. 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Parker, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Hoyt Peckham, Cesar R. Peñaherrera-Palma, Julian G. Pepperell, Richard A. Phillips, Simon J. Pierce, Stephen K. Pikesley, Nicolas J. Pilcher, Patrick Pinet, Matt Pinkerton, Enrico Pirotta, Virginie Plot, Abby N. Powell, Kevin D. Powers, Clare E.M. Prebble, Tiana J. Preston, Rui Prieto, Laura Prosdocimi, John L. Quinn, Lina Maria Quintero, Thierry Raclot, Iván Ramirez, Dení Ramírez-Macías, Jaime A. Ramos, Andrew J. Read, Rolf Ream, ALan F. Rees, Richard D. Reina, Ryan R. Reisinger, Ohiana Revuelta, Samantha D. Reynolds, Anthony J. Richardson, Leena Riekkola, Federico G. Riet-Sapriza, David P. Robinson, Patrick W. Robinson, Carlos F.D. Rocha, Tracey L. Rogers, Christoph A. Rohner, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Monica Ross, David R.L. Rowat, Kevin Ruhomaun, Paul M. Sagar, Melita A. Samoilys, Sonia Sanchez, Alejandra G. Sandoval-Lugo, Erik A.P. dos Santos, António M. Santos, Kylie L. Scales, Gail Schofield, Jayson M. Semmens, Edy Setyawan, Scott A. 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Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets ambitious goals but no clear pathway for how zero loss of important biodiversity areas and halting human-induced extinction of threatened species will be achieved. We assembled a multi-taxa tracking dataset (11 million geopositions from 15,845 tracked individuals across 121 species) to provide a global assessment of space use of highly mobile marine megafauna, showing that 63% of the area that they cover is used 80% of the time as important migratory corridors or residence areas. The GBF 30% threshold (Target 3) will be insufficient for marine megafauna’s effective conservation, leaving important areas exposed to major anthropogenic threats. Coupling area protection with mitigation strategies (e.g., fishing regulation, wildlife-traffic separation) will be essential to reach international goals and conserve biodiversity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1086-1097
Number of pages12
JournalScience
Volume388
Issue number6751
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jun 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  2. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

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