February, 2022

eOceans Founder Dr. Christine Ward-Paige Contributes to Global Study on Shark and Ray Conservation Priorities

[Monterey, California] — Dr. Christine Ward-Paige, the visionary founder of eOceans, has played an integral role in a groundbreaking study titled "Emergent Research and Priorities for Shark and Ray Conservation."  The study, authored by 47 top shark and ray scientists, highlights crucial research priorities for the conservation of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and emphasizes the need for urgent action to protect these marine species.

Over the past four decades, concerns about the conservation status of elasmobranchs have steadily grown. In 2002, the first elasmobranch species were added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Today, this number has risen to 39 species on Appendix II and 5 on Appendix I, underscoring the pressing need for effective conservation and management strategies.

Dr. Ward-Paige and her fellow scientists conducted an extensive survey of 100 leading experts in the field, identifying and prioritizing 20 critical research questions regarding elasmobranch conservation. These questions were further explored by a diverse group of 47 experts from 35 institutions and 12 countries, resulting in an in-depth analysis of the key challenges in shark and ray conservation.

Dr. Ward-Paige's notable contribution to the study focused on citizen and participatory science, highlighting the crucial role that public engagement and collaborative efforts play in elasmobranch conservation.

"I was honored to contribute to the awareness of the huge potential for participatory science in shark and ray research and conservation," said Dr. Ward-Paige, CEO at eOceans. "For 20 years, I have been dedicated to incorporating local perspectives in science, which is central to our mission at eOceans." She further explained that when she started participatory shark research in the early 2000’s, “other scientists were not welcoming of these insights, stating that only trained scientists observations should be used to describe shark populations”. What she and eOceans, with scuba divers around the world, have accomplished, however, shows the immense potential of local knowledge and conservation.

The study organizes the research questions into categories covering status and threats, population and ecology, as well as conservation and management. It provides an in-depth synthesis of existing knowledge, highlights gaps, and proposes promising future directions and research priorities to drive impactful conservation efforts.

For media inquiries or further information about the paper, please contact:

Dr. Christine Ward-Paige, CEO
eOceans
www.eOceans.co
chris@eOceans.co