European Atlantic: A regional compendium of Important Shark and Ray Areas

In response to these challenges, the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project convened its ninth regional workshop in Den Haag, the Netherlands, from 17–21 May 2025. Over five days, over 180 preliminary Areas of Interest proposals submitted by 214 experts working across northern Europe and Macaronesia, using the latest scientific data on life-history, reproduction, migration, and feeding patterns. After careful evaluation and independent review, 124 ISRAs, 30 Areas of Interest, and 5 candidate ISRAs were identified, ranging from shallow coastal reproductive areas to deep offshore aggregation or feeding sites. All results are now freely accessible on the ISRA e-Atlas (www.sharkrayareas.org).

A landmark scientific workshop has identified 124 Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) across the European Atlantic, providing the first comprehensive map of critical habitats for threatened species such as Basking Shark, Tope, Spiny Dogfish, Sicklefin Devil Ray, and Angelshark.

Held in Den Haag, the ninth regional ISRA workshop coordinated input from 214 experts and contributors from across Northern and Western Europe. In addition to the 124 ISRAs, experts delineated 30 Areas of Interest and 5 candidate ISRAs, covering everything from shallow reproductive areas to deep offshore habitats vital for reproduction, feeding, and migration.

“These results finally give us a roadmap for action,” said Dr. Rima Jabado, Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. “If we want species like the Angelshark to recover, we must focus conservation where it matters most.”

The ISRA initiative provides governments, fisheries managers, and conservation groups with robust, evidence-based information to guide protection efforts. While ISRAs are not protected areas themselves, they are designed to support marine spatial planning, fisheries management, and environmental impact assessments.

The findings come at a critical time, as European nations move to meet the 30x30 biodiversity target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Comprehensive workshop reports and compendiums, along with relevant materials related to the ISRA process, criteria, and regions, can be found at www.sharkrayareas.org

© IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, 2025

Cite as: 
Jabado RW, García-Rodríguez E, Kyne PM, Palacios MD, Charles R, Bettcher Brito V, Rohner CA, O’Connor B, Armstrong AO, Batlle-Morera A, Gonzalez-Pestana A. 2025. European Atlantic: A regional compendium of Important Shark and Ray Areas. Dubai: IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. https://doi.org/10.59216/ssg.isra.2025.r2

Download the compendium below and see the workshop report here: https://sharkrayareas.org/download/isra-regional-expert-workshop-report-region-2-european-atlantic/

See the workshop video online here: https://sharkrayareas.org/resources/workshop-videos/
and on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/-Cd5OBay8e0?si=9ClRp-SjKX-pqw0i

Many thanks to the generous support of Shark Conservation Fund and Re:wild

Download Compendium