«In this issue of Shark News you can truly immerse yourself in the stunning photographs that Andy Murch has captured on his quest to document every species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras across the globe. Our final factsheet in our series on human impacts focuses on tourism - whether it be viewing, diving, or snorkeling - and highlights the importance of codes of conduct to ensure both our safety and the safety of the sharks and rays we observe. Beyond tourism, human activities continue to affect sharks in surprising ways. For example, catsharks are now laying eggs on plastic waste like ropes and lines - showcasing how we have altered their environment in ways we may not have anticipated. We also shine a spotlight on the Central America and Caribbean region. From the discovery of a new species of hammerhead shark in Belize, to the ongoing efforts in Guatemala where surveys are expanding to remote coastal communities... These findings, along with education programs in India that aim to inspire young people living near the ocean to protect sharks and rays, are critical for long-term conservation. Surveys in Malaysia showcase how important data on species distribution can also be gathered. Importantly, recovery efforts are now also underway for many shark species. One example is the recently published Oceanic Whitetip Shark recovery plan, which outlines clear actions to help this species rebound. Were are also making remarkable progress with the Important Shark and Ray Areas [ISRAJ initiative. We have completed six ISRA regions, representing more than half of our ocean. Soon, you'll be able to contribute to the monitoring of ISRAs and other important areas for sharks and rays through citizen science initiatives like the PADI AWARE Foundation's Global Shark and Ray Census. The final months of 2024 were packed with milestones, including the release of the Global Status of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras report. After two years of coordinating contributions from over 350 people, we're proud to have published a comprehensive snapshot of the status of sharks, rays, and chimaeras across the globe.» Dr Rima W. Jabado: IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) Chair We also would like to thank and recognise the many contributors who have contributed and helped to shape this 11th issue: Rima Jabado, Michael Scholl, Peter Scholl, Chelsea Stein, Alexandra Morata, Simon J. Pierce, Andy Murch, Ryan Charles, Michael Turtz, IFAW, David Shiffman, David Ruiz-García, Blanca Figuerola, Ana Barbosa Martins, Ian Campbell, Andrew Chin, iSea, Ioannis Giovos, Cindy Gonzalez, Daniel Fernando, MISS X SIARC, Eloisa Pinheiro, Julio Sánchez Jiménez, Juan Carlos Pérez Jiménez, María de los Angeles Rosales Melgar, Cecilia Gutiérrez Navarro, Sudha Kottillil, Divya Karnad, Chelsey Young, John Carlson, Irsyad Pishal, Amy Yee-Hui Then, Amanda Jhu-Xhin Leung, Serena Adam, Cassandra Rigby, and Brittany Finucci.
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