Title
Fishing for oil and meat drives irreversible defaunation of deepwater sharks and rays
Author(s)
Finucci, Brittany;Pacoureau, Nathan;Rigby, Cassandra L.;Matsushiba, Jay H.;Faure-Beaulieu, Nina;Sherman, C. Samantha;VanderWright, Wade J.;Jabado, Rima W.;Charvet, Patricia;Mejía-Falla, Paola A.;Navia, Andrés F.;Derrick, Danielle H.;Kyne, Peter M.;Pollom, Riley A.;Walls, Rachel H. L.;Herman, Katelyn B.;Kinattumkara, Bineesh;Cotton, Charles F.;Cuevas, Juan-Martín;Daley, Ross K.;null, Dharmadi;Ebert, David A.;Fernando, Daniel;Fernando, Stela M. C.;Francis, Malcolm P.;Huveneers, Charlie;Ishihara, Hajime;Kulka, David W.;Leslie, Robin W.;Neat, Francis;Orlov, Alexei M.;Rincon, Getulio;Sant, Glenn J.;Volvenko, Igor V.;Walker, Terence I.;Simpfendorfer, Colin A.;Dulvy, Nicholas K.
Published
2024
Publisher
Science
Abstract
The deep ocean is the last natural biodiversity refuge from the reach of human activities. Deepwater sharks and rays are among the most sensitive marine vertebrates to overexploitation. One-third of threatened deepwater sharks are targeted, and half the species targeted for the international liver-oil trade are threatened with extinction. Steep population declines cannot be easily reversed owing to long generation lengths, low recovery potentials, and the near absence of management. Depth and spatial limits to fishing activity could improve conservation when implemented alongside catch regulations, bycatch mitigation, and international trade regulation. Deepwater sharks and rays require immediate trade and fishing regulations to prevent irreversible defaunation and promote recovery of this threatened megafauna group. Over the past decade, the plight of the world?s sharks has received increasing attention, leading to increased regulation and finning bans. However, whether this increased attention has translated into improved outcomes for sharks is unclear. Finucci et al. found a need for increased regulations in their study of deep sea sharks and rays, which are experiencing declines due to increased fishing mortality, particularly when targeted for oil and meat. Increased regulations are urgent, because the potential for most sharks to recover from such declines is limited due to their slow development and reproduction. ?Sacha Vignieri The international fish liver oil and meat trade is driving rapid depletion of deepwater sharks with extremely slow life histories.

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PUB36271