Malpelo Sharks: A 2025 Survey of Seven Pacific Reserves
What happens when researchers stop telling seven separate island stories and compare the sharks in seven marine reserves side by side? We get a clearer look at where large predators are doing well, and where protection on paper may not be enough.
Did Malpelo stand out in the 2025 shark survey? Yes. The study found that remote oceanic reserves like Malpelo hold some of the highest shark concentrations in the comparison. Researchers used stereo baited remote underwater video systems, known as stereo-BRUVs, to survey sharks and predatory fish across seven marine protected areas in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. The list included remote oceanic islands such as Malpelo, the Galápagos and Clipperton, next to protected areas closer to the coast.
Why use underwater cameras?
A BRUV is a camera system placed underwater, with bait to bring nearby fish into view. “Stereo” means two cameras, and two points of view help researchers estimate the size of each animal.
The same method can be repeated in many places. That lets researchers compare sites more fairly than if they relied only on scattered dive reports, which depend on who was diving, when, and how lucky they were.
The study reports that remote oceanic protected areas support some of the highest shark concentrations documented in the comparison, including endangered scalloped hammerheads. Coastal sites showed signs of stronger depletion. That contrast raises good questions about isolation, fishing pressure, habitat and how each protected area is managed.
What the study does not say
It does not mean every remote sanctuary has the same wildlife, or that every shark population is safe. A camera survey is a window into particular sites during particular survey periods. It gives a standard comparison, not a lifetime guarantee.
It also does not erase the challenges facing sharks that travel far. Animals can swim beyond protected boundaries. Protection needs enforcement, not just a line on a chart.
Why does Malpelo keep appearing in the science?
Malpelo’s position, far offshore in the Pacific, makes it important for regional comparisons. It is also a striking example of what remote marine protection can support when it holds.
I do not want anyone to walk away thinking “Malpelo is untouched.” I would love you to walk away with this instead: we can compare places, measure what is happening, and see clearly where the hard work remains.
Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Diving with scalloped hammerheads should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance.
Read our Colombia page in the Ocean Atlas with the sanctuary’s conservation story in mind.
Questions people ask
What is a stereo-BRUV?
A stereo baited remote underwater video system. It is a camera system placed underwater, with bait to bring nearby fish into view. Two cameras give two points of view, which helps researchers estimate an animal’s size.
Which places did the 2025 study compare?
Seven marine protected areas in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, including remote oceanic islands such as Malpelo, the Galápagos and Clipperton, next to protected areas closer to the coast.
What did the study find?
It reports that remote oceanic protected areas support some of the highest shark concentrations documented in the comparison, including endangered scalloped hammerheads. Coastal sites showed signs of stronger depletion.
Does this mean sharks at Malpelo are safe?
No. A camera survey covers particular sites and survey periods. Pressure from nearby waters and illegal fishing remain real concerns.
Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed and never forced. Ocean Calling works only with vetted, ethical local operators, and every animal is free to approach, or not, entirely on its own terms.
Sources & further reading
Further reading on Ocean Calling: Colombia in the Ocean Atlas · Scalloped hammerhead in the Ocean Atlas · Marine protected area effectiveness · Why sharks matter to the ecosystem
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