We’re excited to share that the Frontiers Planet Prize – one of the world’s leading science competitions – has recognised MegaMove research as having the potential to drive transformational solutions for planetary health, leading to Assoc Prof Ana M. M. Sequeira (founder and Research Director of MegaMove) being named National Champion for Australia in the 4th edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize (2026).
The recognition celebrates MegaMove’s landmark study recently published in Science, which represents the largest global synthesis of marine megafauna tracking data to date. By bringing together nearly 400 researchers worldwide and combining tracking data from more than 100 species, including whales, sharks, turtles, seabirds and others, MegaMove’s research reveals how highly mobile marine species use the ocean, and where conservation and management actions have the potential to be most effective.
The core of MegaMove’s mission is directly embedded in the Frontiers Planet Prize’s goals: using global movement data to address one of the most pressing challenges in ocean conservation – how to protect species that migrate across entire ocean basins, national boundaries, and the high seas, to safeguard one of Earth’s life-support systems: the ocean.
The study recognised by the Prize identifies shared migratory corridors and residency areas used by marine megafauna for critical behaviours such as feeding, breeding and migration, highlighting major gaps between current protected areas and the places that matter most to these species.
Importantly, MegaMove’s findings have arrived at a crucial moment, when countries are moving to implement the recently entered-into-force UN High Seas Treaty. A main goal of this Treaty if to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. MegaMove’s research provides a clear, science‑based roadmap for answering the key question: where should that protection be placed? It also shows why area‑based protection must be paired with targeted measures, such as changes to shipping and fishing practices, to reduce the pressures marine megafauna face from these threats.
Ana being named Australia’s National Champion is a reflection of the collective efforts of the global MegaMove community. This recognition underscores the power of long‑term collaboration, data sharing and cross‑disciplinary science to generate insights that can directly inform policy, industry practice and international cooperation.
Representing MegaMove, Ana now joins a global cohort of Frontiers Planet Prize National Champions advancing to the final stage of the competition, where three International Champions will be selected later this year.
We’re incredibly proud of what this milestone represents for MegaMove and for the growing global effort to turn animal movement data into real‑world action for ocean health.
