Global Marine Protected Areas Fail to Safeguard Most Sharks and Rays, Study Finds

Marine protected areas around the world are failing to provide adequate protection for many sharks and rays, according to a new study.

The findings highlight a significant gap between global targets for protecting the ocean and the protection actually being provided to threatened shark and ray species.

In 2022, 196 countries agreed to the “30×30” target, which aims to conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. However, around 10% of the ocean is currently covered by protected areas, leaving the world some way from that target.

The study highlights the particular challenges faced by sharks and rays, many of which are highly mobile and use different habitats during different stages of their lives. Protected areas that are too small, or that do not include important feeding, breeding or nursery areas, may therefore offer limited protection.

Sharks and rays are already facing significant conservation pressures, with fishing identified as a major threat to many species. The researchers argue that marine protection needs to take the specific habitat requirements and movements of these animals into account.

The findings add to calls for marine protected areas to be better designed and managed if they are to provide meaningful protection for some of the ocean’s most threatened species.

Photo: Frogfish Photography

Source: Mongabay