In a major advancement for marine conservation, the One Ocean Worldwide Coalition (OOWC), in collaboration with Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and national park rangers, has successfully completed Phase 1 of a comprehensive scientific project that definitively maps a vital underwater migratory highway linking Cocos Island National Park with nursery and feeding habitats along the Osa Peninsula on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast.
The study, conducted from March 2025 to March 2026 across Cocos Island, Isla del Caño, and coastal waters of the Osa Peninsula, used advanced non-invasive technologies including acoustic tagging, 30 BRUVS (baited remote underwater video stations) deployments, photo-identification, and genetic sampling. Preliminary results confirm the existence of a biologically critical Cocos–Osa Swimway that follows the underwater seamounts and ridges of the Cocos Ridge, connecting the remote oceanic sanctuary of Cocos Island with important mainland nursery grounds.
Key species tracked include tiger sharks, silky sharks, Galápagos sharks, oceanic manta rays, sea turtles, sailfish, and other large pelagic predators. The data clearly show how these animals travel between the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cocos Island and protected coastal ecosystems such as those near Golfo Dulce.
“The science is showing us that the ocean is connected by invisible routes of life. Protecting these migratory corridors is not only a conservation task; it is a commitment to the planet’s balance and to peace between humanity and the ocean,” said Jorge Serendero, director of the For the Oceans Foundation and a core member of OOWC.
OOWC is a coalition of leading organizations that includes Fins Attached Marine Research and Conservation, For the Oceans Foundation, Ocean First Institute, Mantas Costa Rica, Reserva Playa Tortuga, and the Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation. The project received direct field support from SINAC park rangers.
This latest research builds directly on earlier pioneering work by Misión Tiburón and the MigraMar network, which first documented juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks using the sheltered bays of Golfo Dulce as nurseries before migrating to Cocos Island and beyond.
Cocos Island, located more than 535 km southwest of the mainland and renowned worldwide for its spectacular shark aggregations, now has even stronger scientific evidence of its ecological connection to the mainland. The newly confirmed corridor underscores the urgent need to protect the full migratory pathway.
With Phase 1 complete, OOWC has already announced preparations for Phase 2, which will expand acoustic and satellite monitoring, include genetic and health studies, and strengthen international collaboration. Scientists and conservationists are calling for additional no-take zones within the Bicentennial Marine Management Area and progress on the broader Cocos–Galápagos Swimway initiative with Ecuador.
The findings arrive at a critical time as overfishing, bycatch, and climate change continue to threaten these endangered species. Experts say safeguarding this underwater highway will not only protect biodiversity but also support sustainable eco-tourism and Costa Rica’s blue economy.
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