Tagging sharks along the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway could be the very key to securing greater protection from industrial fishing, pollution, and other human pressures · Mica Stacey
This corridor is called the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway. It is the habitat of countless highly endangered migratory species, from hammerhead and whale sharks, to leatherback sea turtles, dolphins, and seabirds.
The Cocos-Galápagos Swimway is the habitat of countless migratory species, from sea turtles to sharks to seabirds · Mica Stacey
Marbled rays are a part of Cocos Island's incredible biodiversity · Mica Stacey
Whitetip sharks are easily identifiable by their namesake feature · Mica Stacey
Cocos Island and the Galápagos are both part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape, a region that attracts an enormous aggregation of life · Mica Stacey
The endangered scalloped hammerhead of the ETP Seascape is one of several shark species often targeted by industrial fishers for shark fin soup · Mica Stacey
As a marine biologist myself and an underwater photographer, with a deep love for the ocean and its wildlife, I couldn’t wait to be involved in this major effort to protect the ETP Seascape.
The team visited 8 sites and seamounts along the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway
Tagging is completely safe when done correctly and allows scientists to learn more about the shark’s migratory movements; 10 sharks were tagged during the trip · Mica Stacey
Sharks need a constant flow of water through their gills in order to breathe, this is why a water hose is placed in their mouth to allow normal breathing during the tagging process · Mica Stacey
The information obtained from satellite tags will provide evidence about shark’s migratory movements, the routes they are using, and how long they stay in each site. This will then help to demonstrate the urgency to create a marine protected corridor to ensure the survival of highly migratory species · Mica Stacey
BRUVS are aluminum structures with 3 cameras and a cannula, which is a basket-like device that contains rank smelling bait to attract marine predators. The BRUVS cameras film everything underwater at 360 degrees, and the hundreds of hours of video are then analyzed frame by frame to give scientists a glimpse of what is going on under the surface · Mica Stacey
Cutting bait to attract sharks was a stinky everyday task, but knowing this would help with conservation efforts made everything worth it · Luis Javier Sandoval
A filmmaker dives with his underwater camera to capture astonishing images. His work helps to communicate the expedition's work and show the wonderful underwater world that surrounds us · Mica Stacey
A young graduate biologist collects and filters water samples to analyze and characterize environmental DNA. This technique will help determine the hidden diversity within each site visited · Mica Stacey
Though the work was exhausting, the crew's laughter and smiles never failed · Juan Bonilla
Diving at Darwin’s Arch was an aquatic paradise for us, but what we didn’t know was that we were going to be the last fortunate people to see the emblematic geological feature intact.
Darwin's Arch, the day before it collapsed due to natural erosion · Mica Stacey
Crossing paths with these 21 remarkable expeditioners and crew members gave me back hope I didn’t know I’d lost.
By the end of the expedition, Mica had learned how multinational and multidisciplinary collaboration can make a real difference to ocean conservation efforts. Crossing paths with the 21 remarkable expeditioners and crew members gave her back the hope she didn’t know she'd lost
· Luis Javier Sandoval
The creative mentorship grant I received from Only One broadened my horizons, giving me a once-in-a-lifetime experience that renewed my determination to do what I can to protect the ocean, one step at a time. I hope you will consider joining Only One to support vital ocean projects like our expedition to the Cocos-Galápagos Swimway and help rebuild ocean life for future generations.
