Cocos-Galápagos Swimway is important for the movement of six shark and one ray species. Satellite and acoustic telemetry studies have shown sharks display high levels of residency within the Eastern Tropical Pacific region, moving between coastal and oceanic areas. Specifically, this area is a marine corridor for many migratory species. It is functionally connected through seasonal and year-round migrations of shark species between their nursery grounds, found in coastal Galápagos, to their aggregation sites, found in oceanic seamounts and islands, and to offshore feeding grounds within this area.

Scalloped Hammerheads predictably migrate between Galápagos and Cocos (Muñoz-Pérez & Tacle 2017; Peñaherrera-Palma et al. 2018; Kimley et al. 2022), and use Cocos Island and its surrounding seamounts as a layover between other oceanic islands, including directly between Malpelo Island, Cocos Island, and the Galápagos Archipelago (Bessudo et al. 2011; Nalesso et al. 2019). For example, 35 Scalloped Hammerheads were satellite-tagged in Galápagos with eight following the Cocos Ridge on their migration to Cocos Island and five using Paramount Seamount as a navigation point (Hearn et al. 2010; Nalesso et al. 2014; Ketchum et al. 2014; Hearn et al. 2017). Scalloped Hammerheads aggregate in large numbers (>80 individuals) in this area (Sibaja-Cordero 2008; Friedlander et al. 2012; White et al. 2015; Nalesso et al. 2019; Espinoza et al. 2020). This behaviour has been regularly documented by tour operators over the past 30 years (UnderseaHunter tour-operators pers. comm. 2018). Aggregations have also been observed during ongoing Baited Remote Underwater Surveys (BRUVS) research since 2017 (Espinoza et al. 2020; Espinoza et al. unpubl. data 2022), including recently at seamounts surrounding Cocos Island (Cambra 2018; Cambra et al. 2021; Espinoza et al. unpubl. data 2022). Scalloped Hammerhead aggregations are observed at nine seamounts between the Galápagos Island and Cocos Island. In 2018, West Cocos Seamount and Paramount Seamount were highlighted as important due to aggregations of 170 and 130 individuals observed, respectively. Further research found aggregations of 294 Scalloped Hammerheads at Paramount Seamount (Cambra et al. 2021). These aggregations can be considered a function of their movement in this area.

Both adult and juvenile Whale Sharks have been tagged and tracked over numerous years, particularly from the Galápagos Archipelago (including Darwin Island) and off Panama, showing they migrate through this area (Ryan et al. 2017; Guzman et al. 2022). Their movement is driven by oceanographic conditions, and around Darwin Island, Galápagos, are typically found in highest abundance between July and December before moving away (Acuña-Marrero et al. 2014). As part of the migratory route of Whale Shark between oceanic island in this region, they are known to spend approximately one or two days around the Galápagos Island before continuing their large-scale movement (Acuña-Marrero et al. 2014).

Silky Shark, Blacktip Shark, Galápagos Shark, Pelagic Thresher, and Oceanic Manta Ray all regularly occur in this area and predictably move to and from their feeding, resting, and/or breeding areas in coastal and oceanic habitats around Ecuador and Costa Rica (Muñoz-Pérez & Tacle 2017; Peñaherrera-Palma et al. 2018).