New research from the University of Queensland underscores the importance of studying how sharks and rays move across the ocean to improve global efforts to protect them. Published in the journal Conservation Biology, the study examined 30 years of data collected using satellite tracking, acoustic monitoring, and mark-recapture methods to map the migration routes of 29 shark and ray species in Australian waters. The findings reveal that several species, including whale sharks, blue sharks, shortfin mako sharks, school sharks, and white sharks, travel across international borders, reaching as far as South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Micronesia, and areas beyond national control. According to doctoral candidate Diego Bezerra, the study highlights major gaps in the data available about shark and ray movements, emphasizing the need for greater international collaboration to help these species recover. The research found that 62% of the 29 shark and ray species listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) have no published information on their movements. Associate Professor Daniel Dunn explained that managing species that migrate across regions requires understanding their full journey, not just parts of it. He noted that tracking sharks is particularly challenging because they do not breathe air or regularly come to the surface, making them harder to monitor compared to animals like birds. The study identified eight species for which there was enough data to build detailed migration models and found that five of these species cross international borders. Bezerra pointed out that while Australia has strong conservation measures in place for sharks, other countries may not have the same resources or capacity to implement effective protection strategies. For instance, whale sharks are protected in Australia but travel to Indonesia, where they may be at risk from fishing activities. The research calls for more cooperation and data sharing among nations to better safeguard these migratory species. The findings stress that conservation efforts must extend beyond national borders, as many shark and ray species rely on multiple countries for their survival. Without coordinated international action, current protections may not be sufficient to ensure the long-term survival of these species. The study serves as a reminder that understanding and managing the complex migration patterns of sharks and rays is essential for their conservation in a rapidly changing ocean environment.