Loading...
Extinction risk and conservation of the world's sharks and rays
Dulvy, Nicholas K. Musick, John A.
Dulvy, Nicholas K.
Musick, John A.
Abstract
The rapid expansion of human activities threatens ocean-wide biodiversity. Numerous marine animal populations have declined, yet it remains unclear whether these trends are symptomatic of a chronic accumulation of global marine extinction risk. We present the first systematic analysis of threat for a globally distributed lineage of 1,041 chondrichthyan fishes-sharks, rays, and chimaeras. We estimate that one-quarter are threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria due to overfishing (targeted and incidental). Large-bodied, shallow-water species are at greatest risk and five out of the seven most threatened families are rays. Overall chondrichthyan extinction risk is substantially higher than for most other vertebrates, and only one-third of species are considered safe. Population depletion has occurred throughout the world's ice-free waters, but is particularly prevalent in the Indo-Pacific Biodiversity Triangle and Mediterranean Sea. Improved management of fisheries and trade is urgently needed to avoid extinctions and promote population recovery.
Description
Date
2014-01-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Collections
Download Dataset
Files
Loading...
elife_00590_v1.pdf
Adobe PDF, 3.68 MB
Rights Holder
Usage License
Embargo
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Fisheries Science Peer-Reviewed Articles, LIFE-HISTORY; MARINE POPULATIONS; CLIMATE-CHANGE; MEDITERRANEAN SEA; PELAGIC SHARKS; FIN TRADE; FISHERIES; BIODIVERSITY; RECOVERY; PACIFIC
Citation
Advisor
Department
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00590