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1 Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group #4 | January 20222 Photo by Michael Scholl | Save Our Seas Foundation Our Vision A world where sharks, rays, and chimaeras are valued and managed sustainably. Our Mission To secure the conservation, management and, where necessary, the recovery of the world’s sharks, rays, and chimaeras by mobilizing tech- nical and scientific expertise to provide the knowledge that enables action.Photo by Tanya Houppermans 3 Copyright Notice | All content, information, text, materials, names, images, illustrations and visual representations (including, without lim- itation, from our members, partners, affiliates, contractors, employees and representatives) appearing on our website (iucnssg.org), in our publications (e.g. Shark News) or made available by us in any format (“Content”) is protected by intellectual property (“IP”) laws and may not be used, republished, retransmitted, reproduced, downloaded or otherwise used (except for downloading for private and non-commercial use) without the express written consent of the Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG), author or copyright holder. This IP also extends to all trademarks appearing on the site, including the IUCN SSC SSG logo. The Content remains the exclusive property and copyright of the text authors, photographers, and illustrators in their respective credits or captions. Disclaimer | The content, views and opinions expressed in the articles presented in the Shark News magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or posi- tion of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) or its members. The views, thoughts, and opin- ions expressed in the articles belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of ma- terial therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or the Species Survival Commission (SSC). 4 Editorial: A note from the Chair 6 Q&A with Marc Dando: Blending science and art through illustration 12 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Sharks 21 The role of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group at CITES 22 Shark Spotlight: The Carolina Hammerhead 23 Understanding pu- blic attitude towards sharks for improving their conservation 27 Sharks International 2022 is coming to Europe 28 AES holds first Global Wedgefish and Guitar- fish Symposium 31 Empowering Women through Ocean Opportunities 38 A step towards contextualizing the conservation of non-marine elasmo- branchs within the global freshwater biodiversity crisis 47 Elasmobranchs of Angola: Assessing impacts of small- scale fisheries on sharks and rays 50 Devils in Distress: not just another fish in the ocean 53 Nowhere to Hide: Trawling in southern Iran poses a drama- tic threat to coastal batoids 58 Ocean Guardians: Protecting threatened sharks and rays in Bangladesh through public engagement 64 About sharks in the Algerian sea 66 A propos des requins en mer algérienne 68 What Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras Live in Chile’s Waters? More species than you might think 71 ¿Qué tiburones, rayas y quimeras viven en aguas chile- nas? Más de los que podrías imaginar 73 ELASMulheres: a Brazilian symposium on Elasmobranchs promoted by, but not exclusively to, women 76 Upcoming IUCN Red List assessments and re-assessments 78 Funding Opportunities 79 Upcoming Meetings Proofreaders Michael Scholl Rima Jabado Alexandra Morata Design & art direction Peter Scholl scholldesign.com Published by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) Dr. Rima W. Jabado P.O. Box 29588 | Dubai United Arab Emirates Covers: Late-day light breaks through the surface of the water and Silky Sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) dance among the last rays of sun in the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Park off Cuba. Editor-in-chief Michael Scholl Chief Editor Rima Jabado Associate Editor Michelle Scott Contributing Editor Chelsea Stein Cover photos by Tanya Houppermans | blueelementsimaging.com4 Dear readers, As we slowly move into a third year under the shadow of a pandemic that refuses to dissipate, our families, work, morale, and priorities have, without a doubt, been impact- ed. But having said goodbye to 2021, I welcome the new year with a spirit of hope and renewed optimism for what’s to come. From a professional perspective, it’s often the stories shared through the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group network and increasingly Shark News that keep me optimistic and appreciative of all the work that is being done for the conservation of sharks, rays, and chimaeras around the world. So, I want to start the year by thanking all our members for their passion, commitment, and everything they do as well as Michael and Peter Scholl for continuing to make Shark News a reality. This issue includes stories of hope but also stories that should be sounding alarm bells. Legislative amendments in Bangladesh to protect 23 shark and ray species high- light how important it is for organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society to work on the ground and engage with governments. These commitments to protect species are often only possible when national-level data are available on species diversity and interactions with fisheries. So it’s great to see projects being completed or taking off in places like Sri Lanka, Iran, and Angola, where only a few years ago, little to no infor- mation was available on sharks and rays. In Sri Lanka, there are now data suggesting declines in the numbers of Mantas and Devil Rays landed, which can support ongoing discussions with the government on conservation measures for these species. Through trawl surveys in Iran, a Critically Endangered butterfly ray thought to be Possibly Ex- tinct across its known range was rediscovered, bringing hope for its conservation. In Angola, work has begun with local communities to understand the utilization of sharks and rays and the impact of artisanal fisheries on landed species. Working with commu- nities and the public can bridge knowledge gaps for scientists while fostering aware- ness of conservation issues. We have a great story from questionnaire-based surveys on public attitudes to sharks and how culture and history can shape attitudes around the world. Our feature story on freshwater sharks and rays allows us to delve into the little-known world of this unique group of animals. It highlights their plight from human activities, particularly urban development, and the importance of undertaking research and raising their profile. This species group requires immediate attention, and I hope we can work more on freshwater species over the next few years, particularly the South American Freshwater Stingrays, many of which are listed on Appendix III of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). With the next CITES Conference of Parties less than a year away, we wanted to share information on its rules of procedure and our role as the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group when engaging with such international treaties. We also focus on how art can contribute to improving our understanding of sharks, rays, and chimaeras from the fantastic illustrations drawn by Marc Dando that showcase the beauty and diversity of this group. We recognize the importance of having identification materials to improve data collection in fisheries and trade and inspire future generations to learn about these species through the development of species brochures in Chile. But we understand that capacity building is not only about sharing technical knowledge. It can be inspiring stu- dents to care and learn more or engaging with women in small-island states to empower them and teach them about marine conservation and the value of species conserva- tion by teaching them how to swim. Finally, in November 2021, scientists working on rhino rays from around the world were brought together for an online symposium. The success of this event in terms of networking and data sharing was astounding and showed that we can continue working together remotely. October 2022 will see the next edition of the Sharks International conference in Valencia, Spain. We hope this will be an opportunity for many of us to meet in person once again and will be bringing you updates on this event over the next few issues. > Rima A note from the Chair Rima Jabado Artwork by Keith Witmer5 Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) eye Photo by Hannes Klostermann | Ocean Image Bank | theoceanagency.org6 Written by Chelsea Stein ”Sharks were like a magnet that I didn’t see. They kept drawing me closer to where I’ve ended up… if you look back, it all fell into place at the right time.” Marc Dando has created hundreds of science-based shark graphics and illustrations over his career, illuminating research and showcasing species specifics for various books and infograph- ics. He has co-authored reference and guidebooks like Sharks of the World (2005), Sharks of the World: A Complte Guide (2021) and multiple editions of A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World – all of which identify, illustrate and describe every known shark species. But Marc’s work hasn’t always been focused on sharks. He’s been creating art and illustrating since the age of 16, and his career has evolved over time as he has found a way to blend sci- ence and art through illustration. “I’ve always been able to draw but never realized it was any- thing like a talent,” he said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by a lot of inspirational people – for me, it wasn’t a considered and planned career path.” “When I left university, I had a degree in Zoology but didn’t have a passion for sharks at that time,” he continued. ”So, I went into graphics and did all the usual studio-like work of menus, brochures and packaging.” Many of Marc’s friends were also working in graphics and design, and eventually, he started up his own business. He says it was through chance meetings and conversations that he was drawn to the world of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Alongside the graphics work, Marc worked on detailed illustra- tions for commercial printers in his free time, one of which intro- duced him to natural history publisher Christopher Helm. From this meeting, Marc went on to work on his first book called Sealife: A Complete Guide for Marine Environment (1996). The book covered more than 600 species inhabiting the world’s oceans – everything from seabirds to otters to polar bears. “I ended up writing a chapter for the book and produced the majority of the illustrations,” Marc said. “And from then on, that was the path that led me to sharks.” From there, Marc and a colleague were planning to produce a book specifically on the world of dolphins. “As it turned out, we tried pitching the world of dolphins book to a publisher, and they Artwork by Keith Witmer Artwork by Marc Dando Ornate Sleeper-Ray (Electrolux addisoni) Blending science and art through illustration Hear about Marc Dando’s career as a wildlife illustrator and how he’s been drawn into the world of sharks and rays.7 “Illustrations can show the finite details; you’re drawing the read- er’s eye to certain features which might not be possible in photos,” he continued. “I think illustrations and photography can harmonize quite well as photos can show colour, and illustrations can more clearly show shape and specific features to ID species.” When starting an illustration, “Firstly, a pencil version is drawn and checked by specialists; it is then scanned so that I can use this as a basis to paint digitally,” Marc said. “I don’t use any generic Photo- shop patterned paintbrushes; I just use a standard brush setting on my Wacom tablet, much as I would do if I painted by hand.” “I love detail; all my drawings are individually done,” he contin- ued. “I’ll initially produce a flat colour version (not 3D) to get the patternation correct next, and again send for comment. From there, I add shading and final tweaks.” Marc’s scientifically-sound artwork is in demand from organiza- tions like The Shark Trust, Wildlife Conservation Society, Save Our Seas Foundation, World Wildlife Fund and various governmental agencies and groups. His work has also been used to illustrate ma- terials for implementing the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – including supporting the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group’s communications, like the chimaera illustrations in Sharks News Issue 03. “Science-based illustration is a wonderful way to make people look closer at things and give researchers and organizations the ability to get across their information in ways that most people don’t realize they’re taking it in,” he said. “Humans are visual animals, so it’s great to share information pictorially to protect sharks or any other animal.” “This is just so beyond where I thought my work would actually take me.” actually suggested a book on sharks instead,” Marc said. He soon met Sarah Fowler, founding member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group and founding trustee of The Shark Trust, and Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch, underwater photographer and author, at a conference that inspired him to seriously consider the shark-specific book idea. “These steps I’ve never really planned ahead, it just evolved.” Today, Marc and his wife, Julie, tag-team their freelance oper- ation called Wild Nature Press, publishing natural history books under Princeton University Press. Over the last 25–30 years, Marc’s graphic design and illustrations, paired with Julie’s layout exper- tise, have helped make a difference for marine animal awareness and conservation, including sharks and rays. “One of my greatest pleasures is when somebody tells me that they have read and enjoyed our books,” Marc said. To ensure his artwork is scientifically accurate, Marc’s creative process includes collaborating with experts in their field. When illustrating sharks, he uses a combination of numerous reference photos of the species – from different angles and varying lighting – and studying preserved specimens, as fresh subjects always aren’t practical or easy to come by, in addition to reading published descriptions. “It is great to work with people like Rima Jabado and Dave Ebert, for example, who hand me lots of photos and information that I can really get stuck into. When you’re working to identify (ID) species, a good illustration is essential.” Artwork by Marc Dando Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)8 Artwork by Marc Dando European Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) Short-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)9 Sharpsnout Stingray (Fontitrygon geijskesi)Next >