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Publication year : 0
Thematic : Conservation
Language : English
Note
1. Fishing spans all oceans and the impact on ocean predators such as sharks and rays is largely
unknown. A lack of data and complicated jurisdictional issues present particular challenges for
assessing and conserving high seas biodiversity. It is clear, however, that pelagic sharks and rays of
the open ocean are subject to high and often unrestricted levels of mortality from bycatch and
targeted fisheries for their meat and valuable fins.
2. These species exhibit a wide range of life-history characteristics, but many have relatively low
productivity and consequently relatively high intrinsic vulnerability to over-exploitation. The
IUCN}World Conservation Union Red List criteria were used to assess the global status of 21
oceanic pelagic shark and ray species.
3. Three-quarters (16) of these species are classified as Threatened or Near Threatened. Eleven
species are globally threatened with higher risk of extinction: the giant devilray is Endangered, ten
sharks are Vulnerable and a further five species are Near Threatened. Threat status depends on the
interaction between the demographic resilience of the species and intensity of fisheries exploitation.
4. Most threatened species, like the shortfin mako shark, have low population increase rates and
suffer high fishing mortality throughout their range. Species with a lower risk of extinction have
either fast, resilient life histories (e.g. pelagic stingray) or are species with slow, less resilient life
histories but subject to fisheries management (e.g. salmon shark).
5. Recommendations, including implementing and enforcing finning bans and catch limits, are
made to guide effective conservation and management of these sharks and rays.
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Keywords : Lepidodactylus aureolineatus
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
