Title
Estimating the species composition of global shark and ray fisheries
Author(s)
Christopher Mull; Elizabeth Babcock; Ana Paula Barbosa Martins; Zoya Tyabji; Devanshi Kasana; Luke Warwick; Demian Chapman; M. Aaron MacNeil
Published
2022
Abstract
Shark and ray fisheries landings have decreased over the past decade. While more than 300 species are caught in global fisheries, reliable species-specific landings information is scarce as statistics are often reported as aggregate categories (e.g. “sharks, skates, and rays, nei”). Aggregate data masks important species-specific trends, complicating stock assessment efforts and obscuring the ecological footprint of fishing. Generating reliable species-specific landings estimates across the globe is critical for effective fisheries management. Here, we present an estimate of species-specific landings across more than 100 countries from 2000 to 2019 based on the FAO Fisheries Capture Production Database. Aggregate landings were allocated to species based on taxonomy, FAO Major Fishing Area, and estimates of fishing pressure. Unsurprisingly, blue sharks dominate global landings though batoids represent a greater proportion than expected. Our results provide species specific trends in fisheries landings and will assist with estimating biological reference points across all landed shark and ray species globally. These refined landings estimates will improve stock assessments and strengthen the implementation and enforcement of conservation initiatives such as CITES.
Keywords
global fisheries production; species identification; shark and ray conservation; extinction risk
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