Translating marine animal tracking data into conservation policy and management

Graeme C. Hays*, Helen Bailey, Steven J. Bograd, W. Don Bowen, Claudio Campagna, Ruth H. Carmichael, Paolo Casale, Andre Chiaradia, Daniel P. Costa, Eduardo Cuevas, P. J. Nico de Bruyn, Maria P. Dias, Daniel C. Dunn, Peter H. Dutton, Nicole Esteban, Ari Friedlaender, Kimberly T. Goetz, Brendan J. Godley, Patrick N. Halpin, Mark HamannNeil Hammerschlag, Robert Harcourt, Autumn Lynn Harrison, Elliott L. Hazen, Erich Hoyt, Nicolas E. Humphries, Connie Y. Kot, James S.E. Lea, Helene Marsh, Sara M. Maxwell, Clive R. McMahon, Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Daniel M. Palacios, Richard A. Phillips, David Righton, Gail Schofield, Jeffrey A. Seminoff, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, David W. Sims, Akinori Takahashi, Michele Thums, Philip N. Trathan, Stella Villegas-Amtmann, Randall S. Wells, Scott D. Whiting, Natalie E. Wildermann, Ana M.M. Sequeira

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    282 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    There have been efforts around the globe to track individuals of many marine species and assess their movements and distribution, with the putative goal of supporting their conservation and management. Determining whether, and how, tracking data have been successfully applied to address real-world conservation issues is, however, difficult. Here, we compile a broad range of case studies from diverse marine taxa to show how tracking data have helped inform conservation policy and management, including reductions in fisheries bycatch and vessel strikes, and the design and administration of marine protected areas and important habitats. Using these examples, we highlight pathways through which the past and future investment in collecting animal tracking data might be better used to achieve tangible conservation benefits.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)459-473
    Number of pages15
    JournalTrends in Ecology and Evolution
    Volume34
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2019

    Keywords

    • satellite tracking
    • geolocator
    • acoustic tracking
    • bio-logging
    • marine protected areas
    • CITES
    • fisheries stock management
    • EBSA

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