Overview
- Researchers documented an aggregation of juvenile smooth hammerhead sharks in 2024 and used genetic analysis to confirm the species had returned to the Galápagos after more than 20 years without official records.
- The team is now deploying acoustic tags, underwater video, dietary sampling and broader DNA comparisons to test whether the site functions as a nursery and how long juveniles remain in the bay.
- Preliminary telemetry and genetic work suggest regional links across the Eastern Tropical Pacific but migration routes of subadults and adults remain unresolved pending more data.
- Establishing nursery use and movement corridors matters because smooth hammerheads face heavy fishing pressure once they move out of the Galápagos Marine Reserve into international waters.
- The project operates under Galápagos National Park permit PC-18-24 and involves Ecuadorian and international partners whose results will guide possible management measures for protecting the species across its range.