My shark journey into the Enchanted Islands

My name is Katherine Rezabala, and I am from the beautiful coastal province of Manabí in Ecuador. I studied marine biology, and like pretty much any marine biologists, I’ve always dreamed of exploring the ocean wonders of the Galapagos Islands. My shark journey into the enchanted islands began in 2022, first as a volunteer with the Galápagos National Park Directorate. During this placement, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the richness of this unique archipelago for 8 months. It was during this time as a National Park volunteer that I had the privilege of meeting two extraordinary individuals, Dr. Pelayo Salinas de León and Ms. Ana Victoria Moya Serrano, from the Shark Ecology Project of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). I had the opportunity to join them as an observer with the national park, and my first trip with the them was an experience I will never forget: after spending 3 months at a green sea turtle monitoring camp on Isabela Island, in totally isolation and with food and rest limitations, it felt like a dream to embark on a 2-week shark research expedition with Pelayo and Ana to various remote Galapagos islands. During this expedition, Pelayo was responsible for tagging scalloped hammerhead sharks with satellite trackers using Close Circuit Rebreathers (CCR), while I assisted Ana with the remote underwater video surveys (RUVS) to monitor the visit of sharks to reef fish cleaning stations.

Setting up remote underwater video stations in the mangrove. Photo © Pelayo Salinos de León

Months later, my second research trip with CDF’s shark ecology team represented a very different challenge, but equally unforgettable for very different reasons! During this expedition, we engaged in nighttime scientific fishing for blue and silky sharks. It was two nights where we barely slept, taking turns to rest for an hour at a time through the night. We were constantly vigilant, checking the fishing gear to see if any sharks were caught, while from the fishing boat, we used barley to get the attention of these majestic creatures. During shark tagging trips, time is essence, in order to minimize any negative impact on the shark’s condition. That the first night we managed to tag 3 blue sharks. During day hours, we prepared materials and rested to be alert at night. We shared cabins with bunk beds and often had to deal with some loud snoring, but nothing that could diminish the excitement of the experience! The second night, we managed to tag another 3 blue sharks, so overall the trip was a great success!

After my time as a volunteer with the Galapagos National Park, and after all those long and hard working hours chumming for blue sharks, I was offered the opportunity to join the shark ecology project as a research assistant. Since joining the CDF, I have also had the opportunity to join a number of scientific expeditions to the Islands of Darwin and Wolf. During these trips, we worked from a live aboard and shadowing fishing vessel to attract and deploy satellite tags on silky sharks. We spent long days, from 6 am to 6 pm, patiently waiting for a shark to get attracted to our chum line. Thanks to these team efforts, during 2024 we managed to tag another 17 silky sharks with satellite transmitters to better understand their movement ecology and interaction with the numerous fishing fleets that operate around the region.

The ancient art of chumming. Photo © Antonio Linares

What I find particularly fascinating about being part of this project is the contribution we make to the conservation of these incredible, yet endangered animals. The satellite tags we deployed on scalloped hammerhead and silky sharks reveal the significance of the Galapagos Islands for these species, as they spend a great proportion of their lives here; but also the need to protect them beyond the reserve boundaries, as they also make long-range migrations to other areas of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. At the same time, it’s painful and frustrating to know that some of these sharks are captured by fishing vessels when adventuring to unprotected waters.

Ultimately, this project drives us to do more, to educate others about the importance of marine conservation, and to take action to protect these incredible animals. With the ongoing support of Save Our Seas Foundation, we are making a tangible difference in the preservation of our valuable ocean and its inhabitants. Together, we are committed to a future where these magnificent sharks can thrive in safe and healthy waters.