Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks

M. Aaron MacNeil; Demian D. Chapman; Michelle Heupel; Colin A. Simpfendorfer; Michael Heithaus; Mark Meekan; Euan Harvey; Jordan Goetze; Jeremy Kiszka; Mark E. Bond; Leanne M. Currey-Randall; Conrad W. Speed; C. Samantha Sherman; Matthew J. Rees; Vinay Udyawer; Kathryn I. Flowers; Gina Clementi; Jasmine Valentin-Albanese; Taylor Gorham; M. Shiham Adam; Khadeeja Ali; Fabián Pina-Amargós; Jorge A. Angulo-Valdés; Jacob Asher; Laura García Barcia; Océane Beaufort; Cecilie Benjamin; Anthony T. F. Bernard; Michael L. Berumen; Stacy Bierwagen; Erika Bonnema; Rosalind M. K. Bown; Darcey Bradley; Edd Brooks; J. Jed Brown; Dayne Buddo; Patrick Burke; Camila Cáceres; Diego Cardeñosa; Jeffrey C. Carrier; Jennifer E. Caselle; Venkatesh Charloo; Thomas Claverie; Eric Clua; Jesse Cochran; Neil Cook; Jessica Cramp; Brooke D’Alberto; Martin de Graaf; Mareike Dornhege; Andy Estep; Lanya Fanovich; Naomi F. Farabough; Daniel Fernando; Anna L. Flam; Camilla Floros; Virginia Fourqurean; Ricardo Garla; Kirk Gastrich; Lachlan George; Rory Graham; Tristan Guttridge; Royale Hardenstine; Stephen Heck; Aaron C. Henderson; Heidi Hertler; Robert Hueter; Mohini Johnson; Stacy Jupiter; Devanshi Kasana; Steven T. Kessel; Benedict Kiilu; Taratu Kirata; Baraka Kuguru; Fabian Kyne; Tim Langlois; Elodie J. I. Lédée; Steve Lindfield; Andrea Luna-Acosta; Jade Maggs; B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto; Andrea Marshall; Philip Matich; Erin McCombs; Dianne McLean; Llewelyn Meggs; Stephen Moore; Sushmita Mukherji; Ryan Murray; Muslimin Kaimuddin; Stephen J. Newman; Josep Nogués; Clay Obota; Owen O’Shea; Kennedy Osuka; Yannis P. Papastamatiou; Nishan Perera; Bradley Peterson; Alessandro Ponzo; Andhika Prasetyo; L. M. Sjamsul Quamar; Jessica Quinlan; Alexei Ruiz-Abierno; Enric Sala; Melita Samoilys; Michelle Schärer-Umpierre; Audrey Schlaff; Nikola Simpson; Adam N. H. Smith; Lauren Sparks; Akshay Tanna; Rubén Torres; Michael J. Travers; Maurits van Zinnicq Bergmann; Laurent Vigliola; Juney Ward; Alexandra M. Watts; Colin Wen; Elizabeth Whitman; Aaron J. Wirsing; Aljoscha Wothke; Esteban Zarza-Gonzâlez; Joshua E. Cinner

doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks

M. Aaron MacNeil, Demian D. Chapman, Michelle Heupel, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Michael Heithaus, Mark Meekan, Euan Harvey, Jordan Goetze, Jeremy Kiszka, Mark E. Bond, Leanne M. Currey-Randall, Conrad W. Speed, C. Samantha Sherman, Matthew J. Rees, Vinay Udyawer, Kathryn I. Flowers, Gina Clementi, Jasmine Valentin-Albanese, Taylor Gorham, M. Shiham AdamKhadeeja Ali, Fabián Pina-Amargós, Jorge A. Angulo-Valdés, Jacob Asher, Laura García Barcia, Océane Beaufort, Cecilie Benjamin, Anthony T. F. Bernard, Michael L. Berumen, Stacy Bierwagen, Erika Bonnema, Rosalind M. K. Bown, Darcey Bradley, Edd Brooks, J. Jed Brown, Dayne Buddo, Patrick Burke, Camila Cáceres, Diego Cardeñosa, Jeffrey C. Carrier, Jennifer E. Caselle, Venkatesh Charloo, Thomas Claverie, Eric Clua, Jesse Cochran, Neil Cook, Jessica Cramp, Brooke D’Alberto, Martin de Graaf, Mareike Dornhege, Andy Estep, Lanya Fanovich, Naomi F. Farabough, Daniel Fernando, Anna L. Flam, Camilla Floros, Virginia Fourqurean, Ricardo Garla, Kirk Gastrich, Lachlan George, Rory Graham, Tristan Guttridge, Royale Hardenstine, Stephen Heck, Aaron C. Henderson, Heidi Hertler, Robert Hueter, Mohini Johnson, Stacy Jupiter, Devanshi Kasana, Steven T. Kessel, Benedict Kiilu, Taratu Kirata, Baraka Kuguru, Fabian Kyne, Tim Langlois, Elodie J. I. Lédée, Steve Lindfield, Andrea Luna-Acosta, Jade Maggs, B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto, Andrea Marshall, Philip Matich, Erin McCombs, Dianne McLean, Llewelyn Meggs, Stephen Moore, Sushmita Mukherji, Ryan Murray, Muslimin Kaimuddin, Stephen J. Newman, Josep Nogués, Clay Obota, Owen O’Shea, Kennedy Osuka, Yannis P. Papastamatiou, Nishan Perera, Bradley Peterson, Alessandro Ponzo, Andhika Prasetyo, L. M. Sjamsul Quamar, Jessica Quinlan, Alexei Ruiz-Abierno, Enric Sala, Melita Samoilys, Michelle Schärer-Umpierre, Audrey Schlaff, Nikola Simpson, Adam N. H. Smith, Lauren Sparks, Akshay Tanna, Rubén Torres, Michael J. Travers, Maurits van Zinnicq Bergmann, Laurent Vigliola, Juney Ward, Alexandra M. Watts, Colin Wen, Elizabeth Whitman, Aaron J. Wirsing, Aljoscha Wothke, Esteban Zarza-Gonzâlez, Joshua E. Cinner

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

186 Scopus citations

Abstract

Decades of overexploitation have devastated shark populations, leaving considerable doubt as to their ecological status1,2. Yet much of what is known about sharks has been inferred from catch records in industrial fisheries, whereas far less information is available about sharks that live in coastal habitats3. Here we address this knowledge gap using data from more than 15,000 standardized baited remote underwater video stations that were deployed on 371 reefs in 58 nations to estimate the conservation status of reef sharks globally. Our results reveal the profound impact that fishing has had on reef shark populations: we observed no sharks on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs. Reef sharks were almost completely absent from reefs in several nations, and shark depletion was strongly related to socio-economic conditions such as the size and proximity of the nearest market, poor governance and the density of the human population. However, opportunities for the conservation of reef sharks remain: shark sanctuaries, closed areas, catch limits and an absence of gillnets and longlines were associated with a substantially higher relative abundance of reef sharks. These results reveal several policy pathways for the restoration and management of reef shark populations, from direct top-down management of fishing to indirect improvement of governance conditions. Reef shark populations will only have a high chance of recovery by engaging key socio-economic aspects of tropical fisheries.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Nature
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y
State	Published - Jul 22 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/664495/1/MacNeil%2520et%2520al%2520Nature%2520post_review_MS.pdf

Cite this

MacNeil, M. A., Chapman, D. D., Heupel, M., Simpfendorfer, C. A., Heithaus, M., Meekan, M., Harvey, E., Goetze, J., Kiszka, J., Bond, M. E., Currey-Randall, L. M., Speed, C. W., Sherman, C. S., Rees, M. J., Udyawer, V., Flowers, K. I., Clementi, G., Valentin-Albanese, J., Gorham, T., ... Cinner, J. E. (2020). Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

@article{ea2b5be9d9444a91821f2ec012caa198,

title = "Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks",

abstract = "Decades of overexploitation have devastated shark populations, leaving considerable doubt as to their ecological status1,2. Yet much of what is known about sharks has been inferred from catch records in industrial fisheries, whereas far less information is available about sharks that live in coastal habitats3. Here we address this knowledge gap using data from more than 15,000 standardized baited remote underwater video stations that were deployed on 371 reefs in 58 nations to estimate the conservation status of reef sharks globally. Our results reveal the profound impact that fishing has had on reef shark populations: we observed no sharks on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs. Reef sharks were almost completely absent from reefs in several nations, and shark depletion was strongly related to socio-economic conditions such as the size and proximity of the nearest market, poor governance and the density of the human population. However, opportunities for the conservation of reef sharks remain: shark sanctuaries, closed areas, catch limits and an absence of gillnets and longlines were associated with a substantially higher relative abundance of reef sharks. These results reveal several policy pathways for the restoration and management of reef shark populations, from direct top-down management of fishing to indirect improvement of governance conditions. Reef shark populations will only have a high chance of recovery by engaging key socio-economic aspects of tropical fisheries.",

author = "MacNeil, {M. Aaron} and Chapman, {Demian D.} and Michelle Heupel and Simpfendorfer, {Colin A.} and Michael Heithaus and Mark Meekan and Euan Harvey and Jordan Goetze and Jeremy Kiszka and Bond, {Mark E.} and Currey-Randall, {Leanne M.} and Speed, {Conrad W.} and Sherman, {C. Samantha} and Rees, {Matthew J.} and Vinay Udyawer and Flowers, {Kathryn I.} and Gina Clementi and Jasmine Valentin-Albanese and Taylor Gorham and Adam, {M. Shiham} and Khadeeja Ali and Fabi{\'a}n Pina-Amarg{\'o}s and Angulo-Vald{\'e}s, {Jorge A.} and Jacob Asher and Barcia, {Laura Garc{\'i}a} and Oc{\'e}ane Beaufort and Cecilie Benjamin and Bernard, {Anthony T. F.} and Berumen, {Michael L.} and Stacy Bierwagen and Erika Bonnema and Bown, {Rosalind M. K.} and Darcey Bradley and Edd Brooks and Brown, {J. Jed} and Dayne Buddo and Patrick Burke and Camila C{\'a}ceres and Diego Carde{\~n}osa and Carrier, {Jeffrey C.} and Caselle, {Jennifer E.} and Venkatesh Charloo and Thomas Claverie and Eric Clua and Jesse Cochran and Neil Cook and Jessica Cramp and Brooke D{\textquoteright}Alberto and {de Graaf}, Martin and Mareike Dornhege and Andy Estep and Lanya Fanovich and Farabough, {Naomi F.} and Daniel Fernando and Flam, {Anna L.} and Camilla Floros and Virginia Fourqurean and Ricardo Garla and Kirk Gastrich and Lachlan George and Rory Graham and Tristan Guttridge and Royale Hardenstine and Stephen Heck and Henderson, {Aaron C.} and Heidi Hertler and Robert Hueter and Mohini Johnson and Stacy Jupiter and Devanshi Kasana and Kessel, {Steven T.} and Benedict Kiilu and Taratu Kirata and Baraka Kuguru and Fabian Kyne and Tim Langlois and L{\'e}d{\'e}e, {Elodie J. I.} and Steve Lindfield and Andrea Luna-Acosta and Jade Maggs and Manjaji-Matsumoto, {B. Mabel} and Andrea Marshall and Philip Matich and Erin McCombs and Dianne McLean and Llewelyn Meggs and Stephen Moore and Sushmita Mukherji and Ryan Murray and Muslimin Kaimuddin and Newman, {Stephen J.} and Josep Nogu{\'e}s and Clay Obota and Owen O{\textquoteright}Shea and Kennedy Osuka and Papastamatiou, {Yannis P.} and Nishan Perera and Bradley Peterson and Alessandro Ponzo and Andhika Prasetyo and Quamar, {L. M. Sjamsul} and Jessica Quinlan and Alexei Ruiz-Abierno and Enric Sala and Melita Samoilys and Michelle Sch{\"a}rer-Umpierre and Audrey Schlaff and Nikola Simpson and Smith, {Adam N. H.} and Lauren Sparks and Akshay Tanna and Rub{\'e}n Torres and Travers, {Michael J.} and {van Zinnicq Bergmann}, Maurits and Laurent Vigliola and Juney Ward and Watts, {Alexandra M.} and Colin Wen and Elizabeth Whitman and Wirsing, {Aaron J.} and Aljoscha Wothke and Esteban Zarza-Gonz{\^a}lez and Cinner, {Joshua E.}",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: Core funding for Global FinPrint was provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (to D. Chapman and M. Heithaus). M.A.M. was supported by the NSERC Canada Research Chairs Program. We thank our individual funders, whose contributions greatly enhanced the sampling coverage of the projects; all of the government permitting agencies that allowed us to work in their waters; the Global FinPrint volunteers from Stony Brook University, Florida International University, James Cook University, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shedd Aquarium who watched the BRUVS footage; N. A. J. Graham, N. J. Barrowman and J. Zamborian-Mason for helpful comments on drafts of our manuscript and R. Steele for assistance with manuscript preparation.This is contribution #205 from the Coastlines and Oceans Division of the Institute of Environment at Florida International University.",

year = "2020",

month = jul,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

MacNeil, MA, Chapman, DD, Heupel, M, Simpfendorfer, CA, Heithaus, M, Meekan, M, Harvey, E, Goetze, J, Kiszka, J, Bond, ME, Currey-Randall, LM, Speed, CW, Sherman, CS, Rees, MJ, Udyawer, V, Flowers, KI, Clementi, G, Valentin-Albanese, J, Gorham, T, Adam, MS, Ali, K, Pina-Amargós, F, Angulo-Valdés, JA, Asher, J, Barcia, LG, Beaufort, O, Benjamin, C, Bernard, ATF, Berumen, ML, Bierwagen, S, Bonnema, E, Bown, RMK, Bradley, D, Brooks, E, Brown, JJ, Buddo, D, Burke, P, Cáceres, C, Cardeñosa, D, Carrier, JC, Caselle, JE, Charloo, V, Claverie, T, Clua, E, Cochran, J, Cook, N, Cramp, J, D’Alberto, B, de Graaf, M, Dornhege, M, Estep, A, Fanovich, L, Farabough, NF, Fernando, D, Flam, AL, Floros, C, Fourqurean, V, Garla, R, Gastrich, K, George, L, Graham, R, Guttridge, T, Hardenstine, R, Heck, S, Henderson, AC, Hertler, H, Hueter, R, Johnson, M, Jupiter, S, Kasana, D, Kessel, ST, Kiilu, B, Kirata, T, Kuguru, B, Kyne, F, Langlois, T, Lédée, EJI, Lindfield, S, Luna-Acosta, A, Maggs, J, Manjaji-Matsumoto, BM, Marshall, A, Matich, P, McCombs, E, McLean, D, Meggs, L, Moore, S, Mukherji, S, Murray, R, Kaimuddin, M, Newman, SJ, Nogués, J, Obota, C, O’Shea, O, Osuka, K, Papastamatiou, YP, Perera, N, Peterson, B, Ponzo, A, Prasetyo, A, Quamar, LMS, Quinlan, J, Ruiz-Abierno, A, Sala, E, Samoilys, M, Schärer-Umpierre, M, Schlaff, A, Simpson, N, Smith, ANH, Sparks, L, Tanna, A, Torres, R, Travers, MJ, van Zinnicq Bergmann, M, Vigliola, L, Ward, J, Watts, AM, Wen, C, Whitman, E, Wirsing, AJ, Wothke, A, Zarza-Gonzâlez, E & Cinner, JE 2020, 'Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks', Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks

AU - MacNeil, M. Aaron

AU - Chapman, Demian D.

AU - Heupel, Michelle

AU - Simpfendorfer, Colin A.

AU - Heithaus, Michael

AU - Meekan, Mark

AU - Harvey, Euan

AU - Goetze, Jordan

AU - Kiszka, Jeremy

AU - Bond, Mark E.

AU - Currey-Randall, Leanne M.

AU - Speed, Conrad W.

AU - Sherman, C. Samantha

AU - Rees, Matthew J.

AU - Udyawer, Vinay

AU - Flowers, Kathryn I.

AU - Clementi, Gina

AU - Valentin-Albanese, Jasmine

AU - Gorham, Taylor

AU - Adam, M. Shiham

AU - Ali, Khadeeja

AU - Pina-Amargós, Fabián

AU - Angulo-Valdés, Jorge A.

AU - Asher, Jacob

AU - Barcia, Laura García

AU - Beaufort, Océane

AU - Benjamin, Cecilie

AU - Bernard, Anthony T. F.

AU - Berumen, Michael L.

AU - Bierwagen, Stacy

AU - Bonnema, Erika

AU - Bown, Rosalind M. K.

AU - Bradley, Darcey

AU - Brooks, Edd

AU - Brown, J. Jed

AU - Buddo, Dayne

AU - Burke, Patrick

AU - Cáceres, Camila

AU - Cardeñosa, Diego

AU - Carrier, Jeffrey C.

AU - Caselle, Jennifer E.

AU - Charloo, Venkatesh

AU - Claverie, Thomas

AU - Clua, Eric

AU - Cochran, Jesse

AU - Cook, Neil

AU - Cramp, Jessica

AU - D’Alberto, Brooke

AU - de Graaf, Martin

AU - Dornhege, Mareike

AU - Estep, Andy

AU - Fanovich, Lanya

AU - Farabough, Naomi F.

AU - Fernando, Daniel

AU - Flam, Anna L.

AU - Floros, Camilla

AU - Fourqurean, Virginia

AU - Garla, Ricardo

AU - Gastrich, Kirk

AU - George, Lachlan

AU - Graham, Rory

AU - Guttridge, Tristan

AU - Hardenstine, Royale

AU - Heck, Stephen

AU - Henderson, Aaron C.

AU - Hertler, Heidi

AU - Hueter, Robert

AU - Johnson, Mohini

AU - Jupiter, Stacy

AU - Kasana, Devanshi

AU - Kessel, Steven T.

AU - Kiilu, Benedict

AU - Kirata, Taratu

AU - Kuguru, Baraka

AU - Kyne, Fabian

AU - Langlois, Tim

AU - Lédée, Elodie J. I.

AU - Lindfield, Steve

AU - Luna-Acosta, Andrea

AU - Maggs, Jade

AU - Manjaji-Matsumoto, B. Mabel

AU - Marshall, Andrea

AU - Matich, Philip

AU - McCombs, Erin

AU - McLean, Dianne

AU - Meggs, Llewelyn

AU - Moore, Stephen

AU - Mukherji, Sushmita

AU - Murray, Ryan

AU - Kaimuddin, Muslimin

AU - Newman, Stephen J.

AU - Nogués, Josep

AU - Obota, Clay

AU - O’Shea, Owen

AU - Osuka, Kennedy

AU - Papastamatiou, Yannis P.

AU - Perera, Nishan

AU - Peterson, Bradley

AU - Ponzo, Alessandro

AU - Prasetyo, Andhika

AU - Quamar, L. M. Sjamsul

AU - Quinlan, Jessica

AU - Ruiz-Abierno, Alexei

AU - Sala, Enric

AU - Samoilys, Melita

AU - Schärer-Umpierre, Michelle

AU - Schlaff, Audrey

AU - Simpson, Nikola

AU - Smith, Adam N. H.

AU - Sparks, Lauren

AU - Tanna, Akshay

AU - Torres, Rubén

AU - Travers, Michael J.

AU - van Zinnicq Bergmann, Maurits

AU - Vigliola, Laurent

AU - Ward, Juney

AU - Watts, Alexandra M.

AU - Wen, Colin

AU - Whitman, Elizabeth

AU - Wirsing, Aaron J.

AU - Wothke, Aljoscha

AU - Zarza-Gonzâlez, Esteban

AU - Cinner, Joshua E.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: Core funding for Global FinPrint was provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (to D. Chapman and M. Heithaus). M.A.M. was supported by the NSERC Canada Research Chairs Program. We thank our individual funders, whose contributions greatly enhanced the sampling coverage of the projects; all of the government permitting agencies that allowed us to work in their waters; the Global FinPrint volunteers from Stony Brook University, Florida International University, James Cook University, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shedd Aquarium who watched the BRUVS footage; N. A. J. Graham, N. J. Barrowman and J. Zamborian-Mason for helpful comments on drafts of our manuscript and R. Steele for assistance with manuscript preparation.This is contribution #205 from the Coastlines and Oceans Division of the Institute of Environment at Florida International University.

PY - 2020/7/22

Y1 - 2020/7/22

N2 - Decades of overexploitation have devastated shark populations, leaving considerable doubt as to their ecological status1,2. Yet much of what is known about sharks has been inferred from catch records in industrial fisheries, whereas far less information is available about sharks that live in coastal habitats3. Here we address this knowledge gap using data from more than 15,000 standardized baited remote underwater video stations that were deployed on 371 reefs in 58 nations to estimate the conservation status of reef sharks globally. Our results reveal the profound impact that fishing has had on reef shark populations: we observed no sharks on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs. Reef sharks were almost completely absent from reefs in several nations, and shark depletion was strongly related to socio-economic conditions such as the size and proximity of the nearest market, poor governance and the density of the human population. However, opportunities for the conservation of reef sharks remain: shark sanctuaries, closed areas, catch limits and an absence of gillnets and longlines were associated with a substantially higher relative abundance of reef sharks. These results reveal several policy pathways for the restoration and management of reef shark populations, from direct top-down management of fishing to indirect improvement of governance conditions. Reef shark populations will only have a high chance of recovery by engaging key socio-economic aspects of tropical fisheries.

AB - Decades of overexploitation have devastated shark populations, leaving considerable doubt as to their ecological status1,2. Yet much of what is known about sharks has been inferred from catch records in industrial fisheries, whereas far less information is available about sharks that live in coastal habitats3. Here we address this knowledge gap using data from more than 15,000 standardized baited remote underwater video stations that were deployed on 371 reefs in 58 nations to estimate the conservation status of reef sharks globally. Our results reveal the profound impact that fishing has had on reef shark populations: we observed no sharks on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs. Reef sharks were almost completely absent from reefs in several nations, and shark depletion was strongly related to socio-economic conditions such as the size and proximity of the nearest market, poor governance and the density of the human population. However, opportunities for the conservation of reef sharks remain: shark sanctuaries, closed areas, catch limits and an absence of gillnets and longlines were associated with a substantially higher relative abundance of reef sharks. These results reveal several policy pathways for the restoration and management of reef shark populations, from direct top-down management of fishing to indirect improvement of governance conditions. Reef shark populations will only have a high chance of recovery by engaging key socio-economic aspects of tropical fisheries.

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/664495

UR - http://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2519-y

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

DO - 10.1038/s41586-020-2519-y

M3 - Article

C2 - 32699418

SN - 0028-0836

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

ER -

Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this