The global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras

This report provides a global synthesis of the status, conservation, management and use of sharks, rays and chimaeras. Prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group, it updates the first global status report published in 2005 and brings together information on biodiversity, taxonomy, life history, socio-economic significance, threats, fisheries, trade, conservation policy and regional management priorities. The report draws on contributions from hundreds of experts and covers countries and jurisdictions across ten geopolitical regions. It highlights major advances in research and policy over the past two decades, while also showing that sharks, rays and chimaeras remain among the most threatened vertebrate groups. Overfishing is identified as the principal driver of population decline, compounded by habitat degradation, climate change, pollution, international trade and gaps in fisheries monitoring and enforcement. The report also includes a Northern Europe section with an Ireland account authored by Marine Institute contributors, noting the diversity and fisheries importance of shark, ray and chimaera species in Irish waters. Overall, the report provides a benchmark and roadmap for future research, policy, conservation and sustainable management of sharks, rays and chimaeras globally.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/10793/2202

Citation

Jabado, R. W., Morata, A. Z. A., Bennett, R. H., Finucci, B., Ellis, J. R., Fowler, S. L., Grant, M. I., Barbosa Martins, A. P., & Sinclair, S. L. (Eds.) (2024). The global status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.