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Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group #7 | January 2023Our 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 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.3 4 Editorial: A note from the Chair 6 Q&A with Early Career Scientists within the SSG 14 Sharks and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 22 Shark Spotlight: Human’s Whaler Shark 24 Sharkipedia 28 The Impacts of Over- fishing on Sharks and Rays Editor-in-chief Michael Scholl Chief Editor Rima Jabado Associate Editor Alexandra Morata Contributing Editor Chelsea Stein Proofreader Michael Scholl Rima Jabado Alexandra Morata Design & art direction scholldesign.com Published by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) Dr. Rima W. Jabado P.O. Box 29588 | Dubai United Arab Emirates Copyright Notice | All content, information, text, materials, names, images, illustrations and visual representations (including, without limitation, from our members, partners, affiliates, contractors, employees and representatives) ap- pearing on our website (iucnssg.org), in our publications (e.g. Shark News) or made available by us in any format (“Content”) is protected by intellec- tual property (“IP”) laws and may not be used, republished, retransmitted, reproduced, downloaded or other- wise 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 position of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) or its members. The views, thoughts, and opinions 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 designa- tions employed in this publication and the presentation of material 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). 48 A Historic Win for Sharks and Rays 56 The Future of Shark Conservation is Collaboration 60 First Workshop identifies 73 candi- date Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) 62 Writing Retreat on the sideline of Sharks International 2022 in Valencia, Spain 66 Electro Shield Sys- tem (ESS) - A Shark and Ray Bycatch Mitigation Technology 72 Have you ever seen these Sharks in the Persian seas? 84 Microanatomy of Shark Skin as a Novel Method to identify Elasmobranch Car- casses from Illegal Catches 90 Conservation Status of Chondrichthyans in the Adriatic 94 700 Sharks in the night – Shark Instincts, Ocean Moments 146 A Drop of Paint Can Create an Ocean of Change – Celebra- ting a Decade of Art and Activism 169 Funding Opportunities 170 Upcoming Meetings 2021 171 Our Sponsors and Supporters Photo by Laurent Ballesta Cover: Grey Reef Sharks in Fakarava Atoll, French Polynesia | Gombessa 4 Expedition Photos by Laurent Ballesta | laurentballesta.com | andromede-ocean.com | gombessa-expeditions.comArtwork by Keith Witmer 4 A note from the Chair Rima Jabado Dear readers, This past year has felt like a year of catch-up – field work, meetings, conferences – everything has been moving so quickly. With the pandemic slowly receding in most coun- tries, the pace of life picked up again. With this came travel to see new and wonderful places; a chance to reconnect with family, friends, and colleagues; enjoy conversations in the hallways of conferences; and, most importantly, some of the greatest wins for sharks and rays in history. Acknowledging that there are other significant wins for sharks in 2022, such as the quotas for Shortfin Makos in the South Atlantic or the protection of the Greenland Shark in the Northwest Atlantic, the one event most of you will have heard of is that 104 shark and ray species were listed on Appendix II of the Convention on Interna- tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). This was a giant step to regulate the trade of most shark species and a welcome global recognition of the need to conserve these species. We provide a list of the now 150 shark and ray species listed and look forward to working with many of you to ensure the effective implementation of these listings. Many of us also met in Valencia, Spain, on the sidelines of Sharks In- ternational. It felt somewhat surreal to see everyone together in person again, but it was great to come together a few days before the conference and talk sharks all day. Over 40 contributors from around the world gathered to update our Global Report on the Status of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras. I am so grateful to everyone who took the time to join us and those who couldn’t participate in person but have been working extremely hard to ensure we have the best available information from around the world. Our feature story is the first of a series of fact sheets on human impacts on sharks and rays. Developed in collaboration with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the first of these relates to overfishing, the biggest threat to this group, and provides an overview of impacts from in- dustrial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries. But we also have lots more! We have a beau- tiful story from Iran where a team of early career scientists came together and travelled the whole coastline of the country to talk to fisher communities and gather information on shark fisheries and trade. Sadly, the stories recounted are similar to many areas globally where older fishers have seen drastic declines in these species over time. From Indonesia, we hear about efforts to develop and implement shark and ray bycatch mitigation tech- nologies using electro-shields and the promising results of various trials. As the world’s largest shark and ray fishing country, it’s encouraging to see how the next steps of this work will include engagement with the fishing industry to test this technology at various sites. From the Mediterranean Sea, an overview of the species occurring in the Adriatic Sea highlights this area as a biodiversity hotspot but notes the local extinction of three spe- cies within this body of water. From Brazil, we are introduced to a new method that allows us to identify shark carcasses from illegal catches - by looking at the microanatomy of the skin! It’s interesting to see how the skin structure of species can be so different, allowing them to separate between species. Our regular Q&A contributor Chelsea Stein introduces us to three more SSG early career scientists from various regions. We learn more about their respective work in Guatemala, Cabo Verde, and India. Once again, their work shows how passionate the new generation of shark scientists is. The Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) project has continued to move at a fast pace. We provide an update on progress with the newly developed selection criteria finally being applied to the first re- gion of the world – the Central and South American Pacific. The results of the candidate areas identified will be made public shortly as we launch our new eAtlas and before we move to the Mediterranean region for our next workshop. We also look at the synergies between the ISRA project and SARRI, the Shark and Ray Recovery Initiative, and highlight the importance of collaborations across sectors and research groups to ensure we have data to support spatial planning and the development of recovery plans. This issue ends with a collection of beautiful imagery of feeding aggregations of Grey Reef Sharks in Fakarava, French Polynesia and street art or ‘Artivism’. They say a picture is worth a thou- sand words, and I genuinely believe that with these collections of photographs and art, we can showcase even more how magnificent these species are and inspire ocean steward- ship. As always, none of this would be possible without the support of SSG members and shark lovers worldwide who contribute to Shark News. And, of course, I continue to be extremely grateful to Michael and Peter Scholl, who make it a reality. RimaArtwork by Keith Witmer Lemon Shark eye, Bahamas Photo by Hannes Klostermann | Ocean Image Bank | theoceanagency.org Photo by Laurent Ballesta | laurentballesta.com | andromede-ocean.com | gombessa-expeditions.com6 Early-Career Scientists within the SSG In this Q&A series, get to know members across the group’s nine regions. Written by Chelsea Stein Manuel Dureuil7 W ith 237 members from 83 countries and territories, the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) is one of the larg- est specialist groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Across the group’s nine regions, we have many early career scientists pursuing exciting work on shark, ray, and chimaera research, policy, and conservation. This Q&A series will showcase some of these members, sharing their roles within the SSG and their ongoing work. • Dr Ana Hacohen-Domené, professor and researcher at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, SSG Central America and Caribbean Region • Dr Manuel Dureuil, co-founder of the Shark and Ray Conservation Centre (SHARCC), SSG Northern Europe Region • Ms Sushmita Mukherji, a PhD student at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania, SSG Oceania Region What type of research do you focus on? Ana: For the last five years, my research has focused on studying and understanding Guatemala’s Atlantic/Caribbean and Pacific shark and ray fisheries through monitoring landings and using mo- lecular techniques; in collaboration with fishing communities and other colleagues. Manuel: My work focuses on the life history, historical ecology, spatial ecology, restoration, and conservation biology of sharks. Sushmita: I have been primarily working on shark and ray fisheries. What project(s) are you currently working on? Ana: Together with other colleagues, we continue to monitor Gua- temala’s shark and ray fisheries. In 2018, we started a project to identify the different species of elasmobranchs sold at markets and supermarkets in Guatemala through genetic analysis; to verify whether species are substituted in the marketed fishery products and to observe the mislabeling of fishery products. We have contin- ued working on this project, increasing our sampling effort. I oversee students working on their undergraduate thesis at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. We are determining the con- centrations of heavy metals in commercially important sharks and rays and the presence of microplastics in these species. Manuel: The two most significant projects I am currently working on are the Marine Historical Ecology Working Group of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, together with Heike Zidowitz, and the Cabo Verde Elasmobranch Research and Conservation Project initiated by myself and others in 2015. Sushmita: I am primarily working on my PhD, which assesses the vulnerability and management of deep-sea sharks landed in da- ta-poor fisheries. I will also be working on describing the bycatch of deep-sea sharks landed by fisheries in Australia’s sub-Antarctic region (Heard Island and McDonald Islands). As a member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, what does your role involve? Ana: I am a member of the Central America and Caribbean Region. Manuel: In particular, the Marine Historical Ecology Working Group is becoming a more significant task for me and my work contributing towards the Global Status Report of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Sushmita: I am part of the Assess Working Group within the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. As I am very young in the field, my role primarily involves providing assistance where required and, more recently, providing information on the deep-sea sharks landed by fisheries from southeast Australia. What excites you about sharks, rays, and/or chimaeras? Ana: In general, it surprises me how after so many years and so much research, we still have so much to discover. Sharks are amazing organisms. The great diversity of species and their adap- tations to different habitats and different circumstances over time is captivating. Manuel: Their incredible biology, in particular life history and spatial ecology, their outstanding beauty, and for many species, their con- servation needs. Sushmita: The life-history traits of sharks, rays, and chimaeras are particularly interesting to me. Sharks have life-history traits such as slow growth and late maturation, which makes them more vulnerable to fishing pressure. The complexity behind under- standing these biological characteristics and striking a balance with the management expectations of fishing authorities and local communities is what really excites me about shark, ray, and chimaera science. What is your favourite shark, ray, or chimaera species? Ana: My favourite is the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) and Mobulas (family Mobulidae) Manuel: My favourite ray is the Blackchin Guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus). My favourite shark is the Common Thresher (Alopias vulpinus), yet I am passionate about all nature and love all animals; hence my favourite shark, ray, and animal is likely the one I see at the moment. Sushmita: My favourite is the Grey Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon oligolinx). What do you think is the biggest challenge for shark conservation versus the biggest opportunity? Ana: I believe that, although there is still much to be done, the edu- cational efforts, as well as the research that everyone in the IUCN’s regions has carried out, have helped a lot to change the misper- ception that people have about sharks. With the coastal commu- nities that I have had the opportunity to work with, people not only see sharks as a source of income or food but also understand the role they play in their ecosystem and the importance of conserving them because of our ongoing work. In the case of Guatemala, little by little, with the group of col- leagues working in the country, we have made progress in generat- ing previously non-existent information about this group. We have a great diversity of species, particularly in the Caribbean region, considering that we are a small country. We still have a long way to go in research, management, and conservation, but we have made progress... slowly but surely. Manuel: Big challenges are creating truly protected areas free of harmful anthropogenic use in critical habitats and migratory cor- ridors, bringing back lost habitats and locally extirpated species, remembering and documenting what was once there, eliminat- ing bycatch, and restoring populations for species with very low productivity. An opportunity for conservation is to bring sharks and rays into new legislation, such as restoration laws that are currently proposed. Sushmita: I think the biggest challenge with shark conservation is managing multiple stakeholders’ expectations while maintaining the biological sustainability of shark populations. However, the biggest opportunity is learning from local communities and fishers about the historical trends in populations. Specimens of Blackchin Guitarfish8 Spadenose Sharks Scoliodon laticaudus are some of the most commonly fished species in India Photo by Sushmita Mukherji Sushmita interviewing local fishers and traders on shark and fisheries in West Bengal, IndiaDr Ana Hacohen-Domene processing DNA samples Part of the fishing fleet Photo by Cristopher Avalos 9Next >