Mission & Strategy

Our team is at the forefront of innovative research on a globally unique population of whale sharks. In the Galapagos, over 95% of the whale sharks sighted are adult females—an unprecedented ratio not observed anywhere else in the world. This presents a rare opportunity to study their ecology and behavior, a life stage that remains largely unexplored. Understanding adult females is crucial, as their health, movements, and reproductive patterns are key to the sustainability and protection of the species.

In the Galapagos, we are:

• Investigating their migratory movements in open ocean areas and between oceanic islands using satellite tags (active tracking) and photo identification (passive tracking).

• Studying their reproductive life cycle through ultrasounds and blood sampling.

• Identifying key regional threats and vulnerability hotspots.

• Monitoring their seasonal presence and behavioral patterns.

• Collaborating with other regional projects in order to understand the full scope of whale shark habitat use in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

• Our findings are published in peer-reviewed journals (See our latest publications here) and actively contribute to the creation of new marine protected areas. [hyperlink to protection text].

The Galapagos Whale Shark Project is also dedicated to education and community engagement, fostering conservation awareness among both local residents and visitors to the islands.

To achieve this, our team:

Collaborates with dive guides, naturalists, and fishermen through a citizen science program, encouraging them to report whale shark sightings and contribute to passive tracking via photo identification and providing them the latest information in return.

Leads outreach initiatives, including educational talks, interactive activities for local youth programs, and year-round webinars to share research findings and promote shark and ocean conservation.

Supports and raises funds for “Chicas con Agallas” (Gill’s Club)—a youth education program run by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Each year, 12 girls (ages 8–12) from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela Islands participate in monthly outdoor STEM and ocean-related activities, empowering them to become future scientists, communicators, educators, and conservation leaders in the islands they call home. 

For many, the marine world remains out of reach, making it challenging to foster a sense of connection and urgency for its protection. This disconnect is further deepened by negative media portrayals of sharks, which often create fear rather than appreciation.

To bridge this gap, the Galapagos Whale Shark Project has collaborated with various film projects, using stunning imagery and educational storytelling to bring the underwater world to audiences worldwide—fostering awareness, admiration, and a commitment to marine and shark conservation.

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The data gathered by our project not only informs both the scientific community and the public about whale shark ecology and behavior but also plays a critical role in advising policymakers on management and conservation strategies. Additionally, our findings help the government identify marine hotspot areas essential for ocean protection.

As a signatory of the UN 30x30 initiative, Ecuador is committed to protecting 30% of its marine territory by 2030. To achieve this, government officials rely on scientific expertise—including our team’s research—to determine which ocean areas are most crucial for conservation.

In 2020, discussions began on creating a new marine protected area (MPA) adjacent to the Galapagos to safeguard migratory marine species. Our project’s data contributed to this effort, and alongside the work of many dedicated scientists, helped lead to the establishment of the Reserva Marina Hermandad in January 2022. This MPA now protects a vital migratory corridor used by sharks, turtles, rays, and marine mammals traveling between the Galapagos Archipelago and Cocos Island.