Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2024-LR - Flipbook - Page 42
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Management
Impacts
Important Shark
and Ray Areas
Populations of sharks, rays, and chimaeras
(chondrichthyans) face global decline with overfishing
most often cited as their primary threat. The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species estimates that over onethird of the sharks, rays and chimaeras are recorded as
vulnerable or threatened with extinction. The Important
Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) programme identifies
delineated areas important to one or more species of
shark, ray, or chimaera species with the potential for
conservation management.
The marine science programme
prioritises science that has measurable
impact across different fields including
science advances, policy, management, and
conservation. Here we provide an example
to demonstrate how our research is relevant
and used for improved marine management.
Figure 1. Salomon Atoll ISRA covers an area with 11
islands, an enclosed lagoon and a single shallow
channel on its northern side. Habitats include fringing
and patch reefs, and seagrass beds. This ISRA covers
132.24 km2 with depths from 0-250 metres. This area
is designated due to the presence and feeding areas of
the threatened reef manta ray.
0
4
8km
Indian
Ocean
5.27°S
The Chagos Archipelago is home to an array of shark
and ray species whose populations and movements
have been the focus of our research over the last
decade. Using the ISRA criteria, three areas were
identified for ISRA designation based on data on grey
reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and reef
manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in the Chagos Archipelago.
Together these areas cover over 300 km2 and reach
depths of up to 711 metres.
Salomon
Atoll
5.37°S
72.17°E
72.27°E
