What general management strategy does analyzing consistent tracking data suggest should be implemented beyond just protecting known feeding hotspots?

Safeguarding migratory arteries to maintain population connectivity

When researchers analyze the longest and most consistent migration tracks spanning both the Pacific and Atlantic populations, a pattern emerges showing high efficiency in moving between established, high-calorie resource patches, like seal colonies or sea lion rookeries. The data indicates that the ocean spaces situated between these crucial feeding grounds are primarily utilized for transit, often following consistent geographical features like bathymetric contours or temperature gradients. Therefore, effective conservation requires safeguarding these established transit routes, or 'migratory arteries,' to ensure that population connectivity across their range remains viable.