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Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group #08 | July 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 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 26 Shark Spotlight: Castello’s Apron Numbfish 28 The Impacts of Habitat Degradation and Loss 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 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 designations em- ployed 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 Inter- national Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or the Species Survival Commission (SSC). 40 Where Land Meets Sea: The Intertidal as an Important Habitat 44 When Management Works: Conservation Success and Challenges in Western Atlantic 50 Writing Retreat on the Global Status Report 52 Workshop Series on the Conservation Planning of Pelagic Sharks and Rays 58 The ISRAs of the Central and South American Pacific 68 New Shark and Ray Materials from Thailand 72 Chinese Scientists Tag Blue Sharks in the Tropical Central and Western Pacific 76 Sharks Always Amaze Us 80 Peaceful Encounters with Eagle Rays 86 Maugean Skate: Skating Towards Extinction? 92 Art as a Passion 96 IUCN SSG Human Dimensions Working Group Online Workshop 98 DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Phylogeny and Population Genetics of Cartilaginous Fishes 100 Funding Opportunities 101 Upcoming Meetings 103 Our Sponsors and Supporters Photos by Brooke Pyke | brookepykephotography.com Cover: Whale Shark in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, Australia Photos by Brooke Pyke | brookepykephotography.com Copyright Notice | All content, information, text, materials, names, images, illustrations and visual representations (including, without limitation, from our members, partners, affili- ates, contractors, employees and representa- tives) 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, retrans- mitted, reproduced, downloaded or otherwise used (except for downloading for private and non-commercial use) without the express writ- ten 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 respec- tive credits or captions.Artwork by Keith Witmer 4 A note from the Chair Rima Jabado Dear readers, When we developed our quadrennium strategy in 2020 and included the update to the Global Report on the Status of Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras (a.k.a. Fowler report), I admit- tedly didn’t realize how much work it would entail! It’s been a long and time-consuming process, one I am learning so much from and one I could not have taken forward without support from Alex, our SSG Program Officer, and all the contributors! For those who do not know, this work is coming together quickly now, and we hope to have it published by early 2024. We made significant progress during our meeting on the sideline of Sharks International in Valencia; however, many of our members from the Indian Ocean and Asia regional groups could not join us. So instead, we went to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and brought everyone together to work on country summaries for those regions. Sharing ide- as and knowledge and interacting with members in person was incredible. But we have also held mini online regional workshops so members can work simultaneously on their sections. I am so grateful to those who have made the time to join us and our funders who have made the in-person meetings possible. Our feature story is the second of a series of fact sheets on human impacts on sharks and rays. Developed in collabo- ration with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), this issue relates to habitat loss and degradation, the second most important threat to this species group after fisheries. This is particularly relevant to coastal and intertidal habitats around the world, where large expanses of mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs have been degraded or have disappeared. Many of us spend time on beaches, but how many of us have actually considered how sharks and rays use intertidal habitats? A new study highlights their importance to a wide range of species and adds weight to why these habitats should be preserved in light of grow- ing pressure from coastal development and climate change. This is also reinforced by the story of the Maugean Skate – a species that has not received enough attention but is facing a high risk of extinction, not from fisheries, but from the loss of suitable habi- tat. For some species, we know less, and from China, we have an update from a project investigating the movement of Blue Sharks in the Tropical Central and Western Pacific. This wide-ranging species is extensively captured in pelagic fisheries, so understanding the habitats it uses can support conservation. We have some positive news from Iran – the Tentacled Butterfly Ray was rediscovered! Thought to be possibly extinct, sur- veys onboard trawl vessels have shown that the species persists in at least one area. Türkiye highlights the importance of citizen science approaches with aggregations of several threatened species recorded in one bay. In Thailand, work has been ongoing to develop identification materials to support implementing their national plan of action. Our regular Q&A contributor Chelsea Stein introduces us to two more SSG early career scientists, this time from North America and Libya. Their work showcases the wide scope of research needed to improve our understanding of shark and ray fisheries and species ecology in regions with vastly different levels of knowledge. With the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) project, we continue to put sharks, rays, and chimaeras on the map around the world, region by region. We provide an update on our first completed region – the Central and South American Pacific. The eAtlas was launched earlier this year, and the compendium showcased here will be one of many as each region is com- pleted. Our Mediterranean and Black Seas workshop was held in May, and we hope to also have all this information online in August. The number of contributors to the ISRA project is growing, with the Western Indian Ocean coming up next. As always, none of this would be possible without the support of SSG members and shark-lovers worldwide who contribute to Shark News and all our projects – I never cease to be amazed by their passion and willingness to share their knowledge and time. And, of course, I continue to be extremely grateful to Michael and Peter Scholl, who make this newsletter a reality. RimaArtwork by Keith Witmer Lemon Shark eye, Bahamas Photo by Hannes Klostermann | Ocean Image Bank | theoceanagency.org Photo by Brooke Pyke | brookepykephotography.com6 W ith 237 members from 83 countries and territories, the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group is one of the larg- est specialist groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Across the group's nine regions, many early career scientists are pursuing exciting work on shark, ray, and chimae- ra research, policy, and conservation. In this Q&A series, we'll showcase some of these members, shar- ing their roles within the SSG and their ongoing work. • Brendan Talwar, postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and The Nature Conservancy, SSG North America Region • Sara Al Mabruk, founder of the Marine Biology in Libya Society, SSG Mediterranean Region, Angel Shark Project: Libya What type of research do you focus on? Brendan: I am broadly interested in supporting conservation and management efforts, which has led me to study fisheries ecology. My specific research interests include movement, life history, capture-related behaviour and mortality, foraging ecology, and policy. Sara: I focus on the distribution of sharks and rays in Libyan waters and do some genetic research in collaboration with other scien- tists. Our research aims to understand better the population struc- ture and connectivity of these species in the region, which can inform conservation efforts and management strategies. Addition- ally, we hope to identify potential new species and genetic diversity within our study populations. 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 Working with colleagues at Florida International University and the American Shark Conservancy, Brendan takes a blood sample from an adult silky shark off Jupiter, Florida. Photo by Cassandra ScottShark News: What project(s) are you currently working on Brendan: I recently finished my PhD at Florida International University while based at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in the eastern Bahamas. I am wrapping up a handful of ongoing projects from my time there, mostly focused on the movements, abundance, behaviour, and diet of open-ocean sharks. After graduating, I moved to San Diego, California, for a postdoc at Scripps and The Nature Conservancy. This year, I will attempt to develop a conceptual model of Silky Shark life history in the eastern Pacific using any information I can get my hands on! Sara: Angel Shark Project in Libya aims to promote reporting of angel shark catches and identification in Libya and highlights the importance of Libya as a hot spot for these species in the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of the network of Angel Shark projects underway across the region. As a member of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, what is your role? Brendan: I first participated in a regional workshop that we hosted in Eleuthera, Bahamas, a few years back. Afterwards, I collaborated with the other workshop participants to write a regional review paper focused on catches, extinction risk, and management of sharks and rays in the wider Caribbean. Most recently, I have contributed to the updated global report (Fowler et al. 2005 update). Sara: As a member of this group, I have been involved in some as- sessments but would like to be more involved in developing and implementing conservation strategies and management plans for endangered and threatened shark and ray species. I would also like to support in evaluating the conservation status of specific shark and ray species in Libyan waters. What excites you about sharks, rays, and/or chimaeras? Brendan: Career-wise, I am very motivated to reduce wasteful mortal- ity. But the most exciting moments for me are always in the water. Nothing is better than hopping into the blue on top of a bit of struc- ture and finding a group of silky sharks as excited as I am to spend time together. Sara: Shark and ray research is an intriguing field, especially since it has not received as much attention in Libya as it should. What is your favourite shark, ray, or chimaera species? And why? Brendan: My favourite is the Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)! They are cute, fearless, excitable, friendly, beautiful, and usually somewhere warm. Sara: My favourites are the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) and An- gelshark (Squatina squatina), and Smooth Butterfly Ray (Gymnu- ra micrura). Both the Angelshark and Smooth Butterfly Ray are interesting and unique species with fascinating adaptations that allow them to survive in their environments. Their gentle nature and graceful movements may also make them appealing to many people and me. What do you think is the biggest challenge for shark conservation vs the biggest opportunity? Brendan: The biggest challenges are reducing fisheries mortality to sustainable levels and recovering already depleted species. The biggest opportunities involve sustainable use - whether that is responsible fishing, ecotourism, or otherwise. Sara: The biggest challenge for shark conservation is the overfishing and illegal fishing of sharks for their fins, considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. This practice, known as shark finning, is often done by cutting off the shark's fins and discarding the rest of the body, leading to millions of sharks' deaths each year. The de- mand for shark fins and other shark products is still high, particu- larly in Asia, despite efforts to ban the trade in some countries. On the other hand, the biggest opportunity for shark conservation is the growing awareness and concern among the public and pol- icymakers about the importance of sharks in marine ecosystems. Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of ocean ecosystems, and their decline could have far-reaching con- sequences. Several countries and international organizations have taken steps to protect sharks by implementing conservation meas- ures such as banning shark finning, establishing marine protected areas, and limiting shark fishing. Additionally, technological advancements and scientific research have provided new tools and methods to study and track sharks, which can help improve conservation efforts. For example, acous- tic telemetry and satellite tagging allow researchers to track the movements of sharks and better understand their behaviour and habitat use, which can inform conservation policies and manage- ment strategies. Overall, while shark conservation challenges are significant, there are also opportunities to protect and conserve these important predators through continued efforts to raise awareness and imple- ment effective conservation measures. What's something you're looking forward to this year? Brendan: I always look forward to reconnecting with incredible friends at the American Elasmobranch Society meeting, which is coming up in July. Although folks are scattered across the country and world, the annual meeting brings everyone together. Sara: Looking forward to focusing on implementing new conserva- tion policies and initiatives aimed at protecting threatened species and their habitats in Libyan waters, supporting the growing move- ment towards sustainable fishing practices and reducing bycatch. This is important because many shark and ray species are caught as bycatch, which can contribute to population declines. Dedicate more efforts towards public education and outreach to raise awareness about the importance of shark and ray conserva- tion and promote sustainable fishing practices. This can help to change attitudes towards these often-misunderstood species and encourage greater conservation efforts. What's one fun fact about you? Brendan: I have started to spend way too much money on seeing live music, but after living on an island for so long, I think it is fair to make up for lost time! Sara: I had always thought I wanted to become a medical doctor or a journalist, but unexpectedly, I developed a passion for marine biology and fell in love with the ocean. How can we keep up with your work? Brendan: You can keep up with my Silky Shark research through the Save Our Seas blog. I also keep an updated list of publications on my website: talwarbrendan.wixsite.com/btalwar/publications. Sara: You can keep up with my work on my organization's website: mb.org.ly, or follow us on Twitter: @MarineLibya. Photo by Cassandra Scott 78 Brendan teaches students from the Deep Creek Middle School in south Eleuthera, The Bahamas about shark anatomy and ecology before dissecting a shark found on a local beach.Photo by Cape Eleuthera Island SchoolNext >