Global Tracking of Marine Megafauna Space Use Reveals How to Achieve Conservation Targets

June 2025

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 + 368 authors

Summary: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets bold targets but lacks a clear implementation path. Using 11 million tracking data points from 121 marine megafauna species, researchers found that 63% of their core habitat lies outside proposed protected zones. The 30% conservation target alone is insufficient. To safeguard these species, protected areas must be paired with mitigation measures like fishing regulations and traffic management to reduce human-induced threats.

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.”

Author Affiliations

  • Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University

  • UWA Oceans Institute and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia

  • Instituto Mediterráneo de Esudios Avanzados (IMEDEA)

  • Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)

  • Delegación Territorial en Illes Balears, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET)

  • Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

  • Oceans Graduate School and the UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

  • School of Engineering and the UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia

  • Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science

  • Save Our Seas Foundation

  • The Manta Trust

    +316 Affiliations (see full publication)

Funding

  • See full publication

Contribution towards the Manta Trust's Strategic Plan

Goal 2: Strategic Objective 2.2 - Regulations and effective enforcement exist to reduce manta and devil ray capture and bycatch mortality in geographical focus areas.

Goal 3: Strategic Objective 3.2 - Key manta and devil ray aggregation sites in the regions where we work fall within protected areas that are effectively managed.

Goal 3: Strategic Objective 3.4 - The environmental drivers on manta ray populations are better understood to help determine the impact of the climate crisis and inform conservation measures.