A silk shark named Genie recently broke a world record by migrating over 27,666 kilometers in just 546 days. Initially discovered near Wolf Island in the northern Galapagos Marine Reserve in July 2021, researchers from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) tracked Genie’s incredible journey. The goal of this research is to better understand the migration patterns of silky sharks and other threatened species to develop effective conservation strategies and prevent population declines.
Before beginning its journey, scientists tagged Genie and monitored its movements as it traveled over 4,755 km from Wolf Island to international waters, breaking the previous travel record by nearly six times. This distance is equivalent to crossing the United States four times from coast to coast. Silky sharks are classified as “vulnerable species” on the IUCN Red List and are at risk of overfishing due to their slow growth and late maturation. They are frequently caught in the fishing industry, making them a top conservation priority for organizations like CDF.
The data collected from tracking Genie’s movements over 1.5 years has shown that these sharks travel long distances offshore, beyond current protected areas, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect their habitats. Dr. Mahmood Shivji, a co-author of the study, describes these findings in the journal Fish Biology, emphasizing the importance of understanding the migration patterns of silky sharks to inform conservation measures and ensure the long-term survival of this vulnerable species.
