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Argos satellite telemetry, an important tool for conserving migratory sharks

Dec 18, 2018

The 3rd Meeting of the Signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks took place from December 10-14th at the Museum for Oceanography of Monaco. It was hosted by the Principality of Monaco. This high-level meeting united government representatives, non-governmental organizations, conservationists, scientists and observers. The aim of this group is to achieve and maintain a favorable conservation status for migratory sharks based on the best available scientific information and taking into account the socio-economic value of these species, within the framework of the 1979 UN Bonn Convention on Migratory Species.

Animal tracking for conservation

Sharks are a highly iconic but also a very mysterious form of marine life. Sharks symbolize man’s wonder – and fear – of marine species, and even today, much remains unknown about sharks’ life cycle, such as breeding grounds and migratory habits.

Argos satellite telemetry is a key technology for revealing the behavior and pathways of highly migratory species. In 2018, over 200 sharks are tracked each month by Argos, providing valuable information for the conservation of these species.

More info about marine animals tracking

Enhancing international cooperation to preserve biodiversity

Within this context, CLS attended this event as an observer and organized a side event of to present the current and future Argos constellation as well as other products and services proposed by CLS, from high resolution ocean data and ocean consultancy services, to sustainable fisheries and maritime traffic monitoring and surveillance.

In future, increased international and inter-disciplinary cooperation and results-sharing are essential to the preservation of highly migratory species such as sharks.

Learn more about the event:

CMS sharks MOU website

Notable shark tracking projects from Argos:

Tracking whale sharks in Madagascar

New insights on porbeagle stock structure in the North East Atlantic

COLSHARK program: first satellite tagging of thresher shark in Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean 

Hammerhead Shark research: Knowledge from the populations in the Canary Islands

Contact the Argos team