From | Shark News Issue 06 Written by | Lauren De Vos «Like puzzle pieces that slot together across our oceans to create a picture, scientists hope to create a holistic overview of the key places we must prioritize for protection. As processes for the Important Birds, Marine Mammal, Shark and Ray, and Marine Turtles unfold in parallel to one another, a new tapestry of hope might be woven from these fragments of wilderness. Those involved in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Shark Specialist Group’s Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) process are looking ahead to how this latest initiative will contribute to our planet’s protected area footprint. The ISRAs will be plotted out onto an ocean that already reflects several other prioritization processes for different groups. The Important Vird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), and Important Marine Turtle Areas (IMTAs) are aiming for the same vision: consolidating the latest information for each taxonomic group, identifying areas of critical habitat needed for their survival, and making the information and locations available to governments and marine users.»
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