Collision course: predicting whale shark aggregations and migrations off West Africa
In the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, megafauna are highly vulnerable to shipping collisions. Approximately 25% of African maritime traffic passes through the gulf, which also struggles with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Whale sharks are highly susceptible to collisions, experiencing significant ‘cryptic’ mortality, primarily due to ship strikes. Lara is focusing on Cabo Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe to develop habitat suitability models and identify whale shark aggregation hotspots and migratory routes to assess collision risks. By pinpointing priority conservation zones, she hopes to inform policy changes and establish marine protected areas, or safe corridors.
Lara Sousa
I grew up in a seaside town on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, and spent my childhood searching tidal pools and strolling on the beach looking for shells and shark eggs. Always connected to the sea, I fell in love with sharks and I followed my dream, pursuing my undergraduate degree in marine biology. For this, I spent a semester in Brazil, where I took every opportunity to increase my knowledge of elasmobranchs, attending short courses and all relevant curricular subjects. Back in Portugal, I was very fortunate to study the movements and distribution of blue sharks in...
Connectivity of whale sharks in an insular region threatened by anthropogenic activities and climate change
This project aims to integrate tracking data and advanced modelling techniques to identify whale shark hotspots and migration routes and predict the impacts of climate change in a region of high shipping traffic. This approach will not only enhance our understanding of current patterns, but also provide actionable insights to mitigate future risks. Ultimately, this project will contribute significantly to the preservation of marine megafauna and oceanic ecosystems.
A central problem facing the management of sharks globally is the poor monitoring of where and when fish interact with human activities. We use the whale shark as a model off western Africa, in particular the Gulf of Guinea (an area of high shipping traffic, lack of best practices and poor knowledge of fish movements), to identify likely aggregation hotspots and corridors. This research is relevant for other species, given the increased risk of ship collisions faced by about 75 marine species.
West Africa, particularly the Gulf of Guinea, is a critical region where large marine species are highly vulnerable to colliding with shipping. Hosting approximately 25% of African maritime traffic, the Gulf of Guinea also faces significant challenges from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity. Whale sharks are highly susceptible to collisions, experiencing significant ‘cryptic’ mortality that is due primarily to ship strikes. With this project we will track the movements of whale sharks, including at depth, to gain insights into their migration routes. Previous studies have shown that whale sharks exhibit repeat migration and residency patterns within specific environments. Our focus will be on two specific areas: Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. We will develop habitat suitability models and identify aggregation hotspots and migratory routes to assess collision risks for this species. By pinpointing high-priority zones for conservation, we aim to inform policy changes and establish marine protected areas or safe corridors within the Gulf of Guinea.
Whale sharks, listed as Endangered by the IUCN, are expected to continue declining over the next few decades unless significant conservation measures are implemented. This project aims to address this by: predicting future trends, using climate projections to understand how ocean warming might impact whale shark habitats and movement patterns. It will also inform policy change by providing evidence-based recommendations for the establishment of marine protected areas and safe corridors to protect whale sharks and other marine megafauna, ensuring that conservation efforts are resilient to climate change. The project also aims to enhance local conservation efforts by improving educational programmes in local communities to foster awareness and a culture of conservation. By integrating satellite tracking, advanced data analysis and policy engagement, we hope to improve our understanding of whale shark ecology and contribute to conservation efforts while mitigating the risks posed by maritime traffic and climate change in this region.
- To determine, through modelling, the aggregation hotspots and pelagic connectivity patterns of endangered whale sharks between insular regions off West Africa, in particular in the Gulf of Guinea.
- To analyse areas of high suitability and migration corridors in relation to shipping traffic and fishing data to identify high-priority zones for conservation.