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Assessing the potential of acoustic telemetry to underpin the regional management of basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus).

Authors :
Thorburn, James
Collins, Patrick C.
Garbett, Amy
Vance, Heather
Phillips, Natasha
Drumm, Alan
Cooney, Joseph
Waters, Catherine
Ó'Maoiléidigh, Niall
Johnston, Emmett
Dolton, Haley R.
Berrow, Simon
Hall, Graham
Hall, Jackie
Delvillar, Diego
McGill, Ross
Whoriskey, Fred
Fangue, Nann A.
McInturf, Alexandra G.
Rypel, Andrew L.
Source :
Animal Biotelemetry; 7/12/2024, Vol. 12 Issue 1, p1-13, 13p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Acoustic telemetry can provide valuable space-use data for a range of marine species. Yet the deployment of species-specific arrays over vast areas to gather data on highly migratory vertebrates poses formidable challenges, often rendering it impractical. To address this issue, we pioneered the use of acoustic telemetry on basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) to test the feasibility of using broadscale, multi-project acoustic receiver arrays to track the movements of this species of high conservation concern through the coastal waters of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Throughout 2021 and 2022, we tagged 35 basking sharks with acoustic transmitters off the west coast of Ireland; 27 of these were detected by 96 receiver stations throughout the study area (n = 9 arrays) with up to 216 detections of an individual shark (mean = 84, s.d. 65). On average, sharks spent ~ 1 day at each acoustic array, with discrete residency periods of up to nine days. Twenty-one sharks were detected at multiple arrays with evidence of inter-annual site fidelity, with the same individuals returning to the same locations in Ireland and Scotland over 2 years. Eight pairs of sharks were detected within 24 h of each other at consecutive arrays, suggesting some level of social coordination and synchronised movement. These findings demonstrate how multi-project acoustic telemetry can support international, cost-effective monitoring of basking sharks and other highly mobile species. Decision support tools such as these can consolidate cross-border management strategies, but to achieve this goal, collaborative efforts across jurisdictions are necessary to establish the required infrastructure and secure ongoing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20503385
Volume :
12
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Animal Biotelemetry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
178417585
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00370-5