Scientists come to the rescue of a 'superhighway' of sharks, turtles  

If researchers are to be believed, anunderwater 'superhighway' stretches around 700 kmdeep in the Pacific Ocean.It is located betweenthe marine reserves of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica.

According to a CNN Report,the'superhighway' is crucial for the sea life, such assea turtles, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. Theseaquatic animalsmove back and forth between the islands, looking for a place to nest or foraging for food.

The route can be dangerousas theswimwayis open to fishing vessels, unlike the marine reserves at each end.

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As per thedata,thepopulation ofthemigratory speciesisdeclining. Most of these species is alsoendangered.

Alex Hearn, a biology professor and founding member ofMigraMar, which is a coalition of scientists and environmental groups, said, “Protecting biodiversity hotspots around the islands is not enough.”

Hearn’steamis campaigning for the entireswimwayto be protected. Thisswimwayisan area, whichstretchesover 240,000 squarekilometresof ocean.

Theteamlooksto getfishing restrictionsextendedbeyond the current74-km radius around the Galapagos islands and22-kmradius around Cocos Island. It will help increating a narrow-protected channel between the two.