Highly migratory marine species are not randomly distributed throughout the ocean, but rather are concentrated in areas described as biodiversity “hotspots”. Cocos Island National Park (CINP) in Costa Rica, is recognized as one of the three biodiversity hotspots of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, along with the Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (MFFS) and the Gorgona National Park (GNP) in Colombia,the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) in Ecuador, and Coiba Isla National Park (CINP) in Panama.
These sites are used by a variety of highly migratory and endangered marine species during different stages of their life, including critically endangered species such as scalloped hammerhead sharks and leatherback sea turtles, endangered species such as thresher sharks and manta rays, and vulnerable species such as the silky shark.
Fishing-induced mortality is the main threat to these species, as well as the lack of efficient controls by domestic authorities in the region.
What is a Swimway?
A Swimway is basically a biological corridor that connect two or more marine protected areas, where special management instruments are applied to safeguard migratory species, ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and increase the environmental, social and economic benefits for the countries of the region.
What is the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway?
Movements of highly migratory endangered marine species between the CINP and the GMR.
What is the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway?
Highly migratory species move between Cocos Island National Park (CINP) and the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) following the Cocos Ridge. This underwater mountain range is of volcanic origin and therefore highly magnetic, which migratory species take advantage of to navigate between the two points.
What are seamounts?
They are the highest mountain peaks of the Cocos Ridge, but they have not yet reached the surface. The summit of some of these seamounts is less than 200 meters deep. Highly migratory endangered marine species aggregate on these sites. There are also aggregations of other species in these seamounts due to its biological productivity.
Why is it necessary to expand the CINP and protect the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway?
- For marine protected areas to provide the greatest benefits for the conservation of highly migratory endangered marine species, they must implement a policy of strict protection (no fishing). The larger the area and the longer the time since its creation, the greater the conservation benefits. The CINP currently protects a 12 nautical mile radius of the surrounding waters that covers almost 2,000 km2 where a strict protection policy is implemented. The MFFS, on the other hand, covers 27,000 km2 where a no-extraction policy is implemented, while the Revillagigedo National Park (RNP) in Mexico covers 148,000 km2. Costa Rica is definitely lagging behind. Cocos Island currently represents an isolated oceanic habitat with no other protected area offering ecological redundancy to its pristine and unique marine communities.
What conservation policies should be implemented along the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway?
A strict protection policy must be implemented within a 40 nautical mile radius around seamounts that have been identified as critical points.
How would fishing activity be affected?
The creation of large marine protected areas provides economic benefits to industrial fisheries that occur outside of them, as demonstrated by the purse seine tuna fishery in the waters surrounding the GMR of Ecuador and the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument in USA.
In addition, an analysis of fishing effort shows that both the national longline fleet and the international purse seine fleet are mainly focused on the Thermal Dome of Costa Rica, more than 200 miles from Cocos Island and the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway.
Location of seamounts along the Cocos-Galapagos Swimway, with a 40-mile radius where fishing should not be allowed
How would fishing activity be affected?
The creation of large marine protected areas provides economic benefits to industrial fisheries that occur outside of them, as demonstrated by the purse seine tuna fishery in the waters surrounding the GMR of Ecuador and the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument in USA.
In addition, an analysis of fishing effort shows that both the national longline fleet and the international purse seine fleet are mainly focused on the Thermal Dome of Costa Rica, more than 200 miles from Cocos Island and the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway.
What is the Marine Corridor of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (CMAR)?
Is a regional conservation initiative formalized by the San José Agreement of 2004 that seeks an adequate management of biodiversity and marine and coastal resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), through an eco-systemic management that establishes shared strategies between governments from Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama, civil society, international cooperation organizations and NGOs. The Galapagos, Malpelo, Gorgona, Coiba and Cocos MPAs are the “core areas” of the CMAR.
Download: Declaracción de San José (2004)
Download: Justificación Biológica Migravía
https://only.one/watch/i-am-the-swimway
The strict protection of the Seamount Marine Management Area and the seamount ridge that connects with the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador would not only provide the conditions to stop the extinction trend towards which hammerhead sharks and other sharks are heading. endangered marine species, but would also contribute to the reestablishment of populations of commercially important fish species, such as yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, and therefore safeguard fisheries that occur outside closed areas.