Opportunities to enhance conservation success for sharks

Sharks, rays, and chimaeras are among the most threatened vertebrate lineages. Despite considerable conservation efforts, the extinction risk of sharks continues to rise. We present a quantitative analysis of the shark conservation literature, exploring trends and interconnectivities in key topics using a machine learning approach. We show that shark conservation research is a well interconnected, coherently structured, and rapidly expanding field centred around a conservation nexus linking human-wildlife interactions to species use and management. Shark conservation research is increasingly interdisciplinary and is well prioritised toward key threats that drive the decline of shark populations, both of which are key to effective management. However, we also identify opportunities to further strengthen research and management. These include improved integration of key research topics, enhancing the understanding of combined threats, and greater consideration for the role of sub-lethal impacts. Lastly, we stress that meaningful integration of research topics, rather than simple contextualisation, is essential to building the comprehensive and nuanced understanding necessary to inform effective conservation actions. By leveraging the strengths of the field and addressing its remaining weaknesses, there is hope for a future where sharks thrive and contribute to healthy, resilient marine ecosystems.