News

Researchers hoping to aid in hammerhead shark conservation mapped the course of three young hammerhead sharks and found that the animals swam outside of protected areas, indicating that additional protected areas may be needed.

Researchers caught and tagged three scalloped hammerheads, including one female, in the Gulf of California in order to track the sharks’ swimming patterns. After staying close to shore for about 20 days and then swimming northward, the tagged female swam offshore and outside the protected area, which fits with what researchers know about hammerhead shark movements. While males typically stay inshore longer, females will often venture out after three or four years in search of more prey.

Researchers caution that more information is needed before specific recommendations are made since the study size was limited to only three sharks.

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