Shark Sanctuaries: Country-Sized Havens for Sharks and Rays
Have you ever wondered about those 'Shark Sanctuaries' you've been hearing about?
You're not alone!
We just published two companion papers — A global overview of shark sanctuary regulations and their impact on shark fisheries and Global evaluation of shark sanctuaries — that delved into Shark Sanctuaries. The first describes what they are and are not, where they are, and their potential to fulfill their goals of protecting sharks and rays from fishing. The second evaluated Shark Sanctuary policies from local perspectives.
What are Shark Sanctuaries?
We defined them as countries where commercial shark fishing is completely banned AND where it is prohibited to possess sharks or shark parts. At the time of publication, Shark Sanctuaries covered fifteen coastal countries spanning the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Why?
In response to the rapid declines in shark and ray populations, fifteen countries took a bold step by establishing Shark Sanctuaries since 2009. These areas, covering more than 3% of the world's oceans, aim to protect sharks from fishing and trade. However, despite their widespread adoption, there has been little empirical evaluation of their effectiveness.
How?
For the review, we first read all the policies that comprised the Shark Sanctuary to determine exactly what was and wasn’t allowed and looked for all potential loopholes that could be exploited. For example: Was research allowed to target sharks? What were the penalties? Were traditional and artisanal exceptions made? Did they explicitly define what sharks were and did it include rays? How did they handle transshipments — where the sharks could be landed at sea on another non-fishing vessel (skirting the rule altogether)? Were certain gears that are particularly bad for sharks, or used to target sharks, forbidden? etc.
Then, we used the Sea Around Us fishing data to explore historical fishing, and shark fishing, in each of the Shark Sanctuary countries, which told us which countries would be effected by the Shark Sanctuary and how it might change where and how they fish. For example, a country with high shark catch ratio suggests they were targeting sharks in the sanctuary, and therefore they would need to modify where and how they fish.
The evaluation, was based on a global diver survey that provided a comprehensive snapshot of the conditions within these sanctuaries.
We gathered insights from 438 divers in 38 countries who contributed observations based on a total of 667,033 individual dives. It set a baseline for shark populations (diversity, abundance, occurrence), human interactions, public awareness, and threats. The findings were then compared with observations from 23 other non-sanctuary countries.
Key Findings:
From the review:
We found that although Shark Sanctuaries have the intended effect of reducing shark mortality, there is an urgent need to address bycatch within Shark Sanctuary regulations, and that baseline data are needed to monitor and assess sanctuary effectiveness.
From the evaluation:
Shark sanctuaries showed less severe declines in shark populations compared to non-sanctuaries, signifying a positive impact on shark conservation.
Sanctuaries reported fewer instances of sharks being sold in markets, indicating a potential reduction in shark-related commerce.
Shark Sanctuaries experienced lower overall fishing threats, suggesting a positive influence on curbing harmful fishing practices.
While some Shark Sanctuaries address direct fishing, there remains significant challenges in addressing bycatch, ghost gear, marine debris, and habitat destruction, which also threaten sharks.
Participants in Shark Sanctuaries were more optimistic about local shark populations' survival, but emphasized the need for additional conservation efforts.
Implications:
Our results suggest that Shark Sanctuaries can contribute positively to shark conservation. However, the evaluation highlights the need for a more holistic approach. Sanctuaries alone might not be sufficient, as challenges such as bycatch and habitat destruction persist. Urgently needed are higher-resolution data on shark abundance and incidental catch to guide targeted conservation efforts and optimize sanctuary benefits.
Program Evaluation Measures:
Together, our papers highlight the importance of program evaluation within Shark Sanctuaries. Are they working? Under what conditions do they work best? How do Shark Sanctuaries compare to other conservation strategies, like protected areas that cover all species, time-area closures that only protect small areas for a short period of time, or anti-finning policies?
While sanctuaries may reduce shark mortality, addressing bycatch and collecting baseline data become critical components of effective conservation strategies.
In conclusion, these evaluations offer valuable insights into the potential of Shark Sanctuaries as conservation tools and underscore the urgency ongoing assessments to ensure they safeguard sharks in the long-term.