In this latest article from the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) regional compendium for Australia and the Southeast Indian Ocean was discussed.

158 Important Shark and Ray Areas Identified Across Australia and the Southeast Indian Ocean
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New scientific map highlights critical habitats for threatened and endemic species

​A major scientific workshop has identified 158 Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) across Australia and the southeast Indian Ocean, providing the most comprehensive map to date of habitats essential for threatened and endemic species in the region.

The Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project was featured in this new article from Green Matters. It provides a summary on across nine regions, IUCN located 816 areas where at least one threatened species of sharks and rays hosts key activities.

In this article from Mongabay, a publication from the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project was featured. It highlights how almost half of the Western Indian Ocean’s shark and ray populations are considered threatened with extinction, as populations decline.

Read the latest update on the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project. Featured on Mongabay, this article highlights "Ocean Travellers: Safeguarding Critical Habitats for Migratory Sharks and Rays". This new report delineates 816 areas of the ocean that should be protected to help shark and ray populations recover following decades of overfishing.

The Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project is coming to North America! In this blog from Southern Fried Science, the ISRA team is interviewed on ISRAs, detailing how to submit your data and participate.

New Global Report Identifies Critical Habitats for Migratory Sharks and Rays
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IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group unveils the first-ever coordinated global map of Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) for CMS-listed sharks and rays.

Read the latest publication stemming from the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project released in Ecology and Evolution where authors analysed ISRAs across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Results shows that only 7.1% of ISRAs are within designated marine protected areas (MPAs), with just 1.2% in fully protected no-take areas. These findings highlight the shortfalls in spatial protection of chondrichthyan habitats, but also present a strategic opportunity for policy-makers and resource managers to improve current MPA coverage and meet their commitments under international agreements, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework.