Dulvy, Nicholas K., Pacoureau, Nathan, Matsushiba, Jay H., Yan, Helen F., VanderWright, Wade J., Rigby, Cassandra L., Finucci, Brittany, Sherman, C. Samantha, Jabado, Rima W., Carlson, John K., Pollom, Riley A., Charvet, Patricia, Pollock, Caroline M., Hilton-Taylor, Craig, and Simpfendorfer, Colin A. (2024) Ecological erosion and expanding extinction risk of sharks and rays. Science, 386 (6726).

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Abstract

The true state of ocean biodiversity is difficult to assess, and there are few global indicators to track the primary threat of overfishing. We calculated a 50-year Red List Index of extinction risk and ecological function for 1199 sharks and rays and found that since 1970, overfishing has halved their populations and their Red List Index has worsened by 19%. Overfishing the largest species in nearshore and pelagic habitats risks loss of ecomorphotypes and a 5 to 22% erosion of functional diversity. Extinction risk is higher in countries with large human coastal populations but lower in nations with stronger governance, larger economies, and greater beneficial fisheries subsidies. Restricting fishing (including incidental catch) and trade to sustainable levels combined with prohibiting retention of highly threatened species can avert further depletion, widespread loss of population connectivity, and top-down predator control.

Item ID:	84857
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1095-9203
Copyright Information:	© 2024 the authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original US government works. https://www.science.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse.
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2025 00:24
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180504 Marine biodiversity @ 100%
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