Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs): A blueprint for conservation

After a temporary break from publication in 2024, the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI) newsletter is back – packed with news from around the GOBI community and beyond. See the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) being featured in this issue!

WRITTEN BY | WildTrust
SOURCE | Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI)

The ocean is home to magnificent diversity, including over 1,200 species of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras), each playing a vital role in maintaining balance in marine ecosystems. Globally, more than one-third of chondrichthyan species are considered threatened with extinction, meaning that they are listed as either Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Many of these species face critical threats associated with habitat destruction, climate change and pollution. However, the major threat to sharks, rays and chimaeras, is overfishing, both targeted and incidental catch (bycatch).

To address these challenges, the concept of Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs), led by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, has emerged, providing a systematic approach to marine conservation and to contribute to the global effort to protect marine biodiversity. 

Read the full newsletter online here.