Heupel, Michelle R., and Simpfendorfer, Colin A. (2011) Shark biology, ecology and management: introduction. Marine and Freshwater Research, 62 (6). p. 517.

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Abstract

[Extract] Sharks are iconic and important species that have captivated human imagination through cultural significance and media exposure. Sharks and rays are fished and utilised for products (flesh, fins, teeth), and nets and lines are employed to deplete sharks to improve our safety at beaches. On the basis of the compounding effects of exploiting these species, it is becoming clear that human impacts on shark and ray populations are often unsustainable and that many populations are seriously depleted, with some considered to be threatened with extinction. The ecosystem impacts of these actions are yet to be fully defined and questions about the status and role of sharks in various systems remain. This lack of understanding was the impetus for an international conference to gather experts, emphasise the need for greater information about shark and ray populations, and highlight the need to share data with colleagues around the globe.

This Special Issue of Marine and Freshwater Research is the result of an international conference, Sharks International, hosted in Cairns, Queensland, June 2010. The conference attracted 214 delegates from 22 countries. As the world's oceans continue to be utilised and altered, threats facing marine species will continue to increase in importance. As scientists, we are often not in a position to directly effect change because use of resources involves a complex mix of social, economic, political and environmental issues. Scientists can make a crucial contribution to appropriate and effective management and conservation of ocean resources through the production and communication of high-quality research outputs. In this Special Issue, we have assembled a subset of the interesting and important work presented at Sharks International.

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