Affiliations 

  • 1 Earth to Ocean Research Group, Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. sammsherman27@gmail.com
  • 2 College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
  • 3 Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 310 West Campus Drive, 100 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
  • 4 Earth to Ocean Research Group, Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
  • 5 Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
  • 6 Species Recovery Program, Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, 98101, WA, USA
  • 7 NOAA Fisheries Service, 3500 Delwood Beach Rd, Panama City, 32408, FL, USA
  • 8 Programa de Pós-graduação em Sistemática, Uso e Conservação da Biodiversidade (PPGSis - UFC), Acesso Público, 913 - Pici, Fortaleza, Paraná, 60020-181, Brazil
  • 9 Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Jalan Pelabuhan LKIM, Chendering, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, 21080, Malaysia
  • 10 Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency - Indonesia, Jalan Pasir Putih Raya No.1 Ancol Timur, Jakarta Utara, DKI Jakarta, 14430, Indonesia
  • 11 Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, 30313, GA, USA
  • 12 National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Hataitai, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
  • 13 Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 155 Ridge Road, St. John's, NL, A1C 5R3, Canada
  • 14 Sea Around Us, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
  • 15 Fundación Mundo Azul, km 21-22 Finca Moran, Villa Canales, 01065, Guatemala
  • 16 Zoological Survey of India, Marine Biology Regional Centre, 30, Near Hotel Sangeetha Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600028, India
  • 17 Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Crédito Constructor, Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, 03940, México
  • 18 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, 2060-11501, Costa Rica
  • 19 Blue Resources Trust, 86 Barnes Place, Colombo, WP, 00700, Sri Lanka
  • 20 Nature-based Solutions Initiative, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Research and Administration Building, 11a Mansfield Rd, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3SZ, UK
  • 21 Wildlife Conservation Society - WCS Colombia, Av. 5N # 22N-11, Cali, Valle del Cauca, 760001, Colombia
  • 22 Fundación colombiana para la investigación y conservación de tiburones y rayas - SQUALUS, Calle 10A # 72-35, Cali, Valle del Cauca, 760001, Colombia
  • 23 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Rancho Polígono 2-A, Lerma, Campeche, 24500, México
  • 24 Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, G/F Bonifacio Ridge Building, 1st Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, 1634, Philippines
  • 25 WWF-Indonesia, Pemuda 1 No. 8, Denpasar, Bali, 80224, Indonesia
Nat Commun, 2023 Jan 17;14(1):15.
PMID: 36650137 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35091-x

Abstract

Sharks and rays are key functional components of coral reef ecosystems, yet many populations of a few species exhibit signs of depletion and local extinctions. The question is whether these declines forewarn of a global extinction crisis. We use IUCN Red List to quantify the status, trajectory, and threats to all coral reef sharks and rays worldwide. Here, we show that nearly two-thirds (59%) of the 134 coral-reef associated shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Alongside marine mammals, sharks and rays are among the most threatened groups found on coral reefs. Overfishing is the main cause of elevated extinction risk, compounded by climate change and habitat degradation. Risk is greatest for species that are larger-bodied (less resilient and higher trophic level), widely distributed across several national jurisdictions (subject to a patchwork of management), and in nations with greater fishing pressure and weaker governance. Population declines have occurred over more than half a century, with greatest declines prior to 2005. Immediate action through local protections, combined with broad-scale fisheries management and Marine Protected Areas, is required to avoid extinctions and the loss of critical ecosystem function condemning reefs to a loss of shark and ray biodiversity and ecosystem services, limiting livelihoods and food security.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.