Category: 2021

Globally, reef sharks are least abundant in East Africa: restoration possible through conservation and policy measures

18/4/2021

REGION UPDATE | Africa

By Kennedy Osuka | CORDIO East Africa

A first global study published in Nature found reef sharks were absent on almost 20% of the 371 coral reefs sampled in 58 nations across the world. The study provides conclusive evidence of a severe decline in reef sharks on a global scale which is directly linked to fishing, but confirms protected areas and fishing gear restrictions are effective in maintaining healthy reef shark populations. The results were based on 15,165 hours of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) footage around the world.

Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, & Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean

18/4/2021

NEW PUBLICATION

Written by David Ebert and Marc Dando

The waters of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea are home to an amazing variety of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. The newly published Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, & Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean covers all 146 species found in the Mediterranean, the waters of the European Atlantic and Iceland, along all the Scandinavian coasts, in the Black Sea and as far south as the Canary Islands.

The region can lay claim to the 10th most diverse chondrichthyes fauna in the world; representing nearly 12% of all known species, including about 25 endemic European Atlantic and nine endemic Mediterranean Sea species.

Contribution of the Russian SSG team to elasmobranch research during last decade

17/4/2021

by Alexei M. Orlov | Former Regional Vice-Chair | Northwestern Pacific

In the Russian Federation, there is currently almost no targeted scientific research of cartilaginous fish, which is due to a number of reasons. First, the fauna of cartilaginous fish in the waters of Russia is quite poor, since most of its seas are located in temperate and cold waters, which are characterized by a low species diversity of the considered group of fish. Secondly, there is no specialized fishing of cartilaginous fish in Russia, which are caught as by-catch in trawl, net and longline fisheries. In the domestic market, products made from shark and ray meat are in very low demand, so most of them are sold in Asian fish markets.

Curious about what shark species occur in South Africa?

17/4/2021

First SA Shark checklist – Published

A first ever dedicated checklist of South Africa’s chondrichthyan fauna provides a current list of all sharks, rays, skates and ghost sharks that occur in South African waters, their distribution and current IUCN Red List status.

Forward>>

News

Globally, reef sharks are least abundant in East Africa: restoration possible through conservation and policy measures

Field Guide to Sharks, Rays, & Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean

Contribution of the Russian SSG team to elasmobranch research during last decade

Curious about what shark species occur in South Africa?

First SA Shark checklist – Published

Archives