A decade of LAMAVE research shapes IUCN Important Shark and Ray Areas in the Philippines

See here for the press release by the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), featuring the ISRAs delineated in the Asia region

SOURCE | ​Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— Ten years of research by the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) has supported the delineation of six of the eleven “Important Shark and Ray Areas” (ISRA) identified in the Philippines as part of global efforts to map out critical habitats for sharks, rays, and chimaeras around the world.

The eleven Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) were identified in the Philippines as part of a global initiative led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN-SSC) Shark Specialist Group in collaboration with local and regional experts. 

The areas were preliminarily identified during a regional workshop in January in Bali, Indonesia, which brought together a team of 33 scientists, including 23 experts from throughout the region, and 208 contributors. Ariana Agustines from LAMAVE and AA Yaptinchay of the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP) attended. Almost 200 preliminary Areas of Interest (AOI) in Asia were considered, of which 122 were approved as ISRA and 45 as AOI after review by an Independent Review Panel. 

Read full article online here.