The Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) said they collected information to measure the distribution, diversity and abundance of sharks, tuna and other pelagic species using 132 remote-controlled underwater cameras lured and placed on metal structures to attract predators to investigate (most 100 spend their time in offshore environments).
In addition, thanks to modern technology, they managed to measure the size of the animals, a very important parameter for analyzing the health of their populations, he said.
The preliminary results – he hinted – show at least 14 species spotted in pelagic environments, including threatened species such as hammerheads, threshers and silky sharks; alongside striped and black marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphins and other species of small fish.
Moreover, he specified, sharks were only detected in the cameras placed near the seamounts compared to the cameras placed at a certain distance from them, confirming their importance as places of aggregation of species .
Minae Deputy Minister of Waters and Seas Cynthia Barzuna said that the marine management area of the Bicentennial Montes Submarinos makes it possible to protect part of the Cocos volcanic mountain range, whose structures are crucial for ocean connectivity and conservation Biodiversity Marina as it is a refuge for deep sea species.
Such species are uniquely adapted, making them highly vulnerable to human impact, he noted.
Marta Cambra, marine biologist and researcher at the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology (Cimar), revealed preliminary results suggest seamounts are a hot spot for marine biodiversity.
“With this data that we are analyzing and with data that we will collect on future expeditions, we can better understand how the health status of these pelagic species is changing and define effective strategies to ensure their conservation.”
The Minae pointed out that these seamounts are part of the Cocos Volcanic Mountain Range, which connects Cocos Island National Park to Galapagos National Park in Ecuador.
They’re submerged mountains that rise from the seabed at a depth of about 10,000 feet and act as barriers to cold, nutrient-laden ocean currents, he explained.
He explained that when these currents meet seamounts, they are forced to rise to the surface, increasing the amount of nutrients available to marine organisms.
This is the first in a series of expeditions being conducted by a team of scientists from Cimar, the University of Costa Rica and officials from the Coco Marine Conservation Area as part of the project, Strengthening Marine Conservation and Sustainable Coastal Development Between the Central Pacific Coast and the Coco Marine Conservation Area.
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