In the Fakarava Atoll (French Polynesia), researchers have identified a channel only about half a mile long as a life center for grey reef sharks. There, the animals find food, cleaning, mating, and even give birth — many sharks spend up to 90% of their time in this small area. New research suggests that such "super habitats" can make a major contribution to the protection of migratory shark species.
What defines a super habitat?
Super habitats combine several vital functions in a small space: dense prey populations, suitable current conditions, resting areas, and stations for cleaner fish. In the Fakarava Channel, all these elements have been documented — researchers observed mating bites, juveniles, and even a birth, recorded with cameras and bio-loggers attached to the animals.
Observations and methods
The team led by Yannis Papastamatiou (Florida International University) combined underwater observations, animal-borne cameras, and tracking tags. This allowed them to determine that many individuals repeatedly return to the channel and go through nearly all life stages there. Such data show that not only large marine protected areas are important, but also the targeted protection of small, high-quality habitats.
Why this is relevant for shark conservation
Highly mobile species like sharks travel long distances and are therefore difficult to protect. Super habitats offer an opportunity: if these corridors and hotspots are protected, a large part of the population and their reproductive cycle can be safeguarded with relatively little effort. Papastamatiou emphasizes that super habitats are not a complete alternative to large marine protected areas, but they are an effective complement.
Recommendations for action
The researchers recommend actively searching for additional super habitats worldwide and incorporating them into conservation planning. Measures range from temporary fishing restrictions to strict regulations for shipping and tourism, as well as local monitoring. Such protection corridors could help make shark populations more resilient to overfishing, habitat loss, and the impacts of climate change.
Outlook
The Fakarava example shows how much conservation impact can be achieved in relatively small, ecologically high-quality areas. The challenge now is to find similar sites, scientifically validate them, and protect them together with authorities and local communities — before these hotspots are weakened by human use.
“Super habitats will never be the sole solution, but they must be included in modern conservation strategies for migratory marine predators.” — Yannis Papastamatiou
