HomeTop StoriesScience and Technology: Study reveals that the 2/3 of shark species are...

Science and Technology: Study reveals that the 2/3 of shark species are in risk of extinction globally

The researchers sampled nearly 10,000 shark fin clippings from markets in Hong Kong – one of the largest shark fin trading centers in the world. With a bit of DNA detective work, they unraveled the mystery of which fin belonged to which species and found that threatened or endangered species are disproportionately represented in the trade, highlighting the need for more international regulations on shark trade and management practices. More than 70 percent of the species that end up in the global shark fin trade are at risk of extinction and sharks living closer to our shores may be the biggest conservation concern, according to new research. A team of international scientists from the US and China sampled 9,820 fin clippings from markets in Hong Kong – one of the world’s largest shark fin trading centers. With a bit of DNA detective work, they solved the mystery of which fin belonged to which species.

 In total, they found 86 different species of sharks and their relatives, rays and chimeras. Sixty-one of them, i.e. more than two-thirds, are threatened with extinction. The research was recently published in Conservation Letters.”Overfishing is most likely the immediate cause of the declining trends we are seeing in shark and ray populations around the world. The fact that we find so many endangered species in the global shark fin trade is a warning sign that international trade can to be the main driver of unsustainable fishing,” said Diego Cardeñosa, Florida International University (FIU) postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species assessed sharks and their relatives in 2021 and found that about a third of all species are threatened. The results of this new study suggest that the species in this trade are much more likely to be in the endangered categories. For almost ten years, Dr. Demian Chapman—director of the Shark and Stingray Conservation Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and adjunct professor at FIU—a collaborative team that includes Cardeñosa to track and monitor the global shark. fin shop. To date, they have conducted DNA tests on about 10,000 small scraps taken from processed imported fins sold in markets in Hong Kong and southern China. The project is in collaboration with BLOOM Association Hong Kong and Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden. The team’s goal is to better understand what species are in the trade and how common they are. By tracking this over time, they will be able to inform decision-makers about how well different management measures are working.

The study found that common species that end up in the fin trade are open ocean or pelagic sharks such as blue and silky sharks. However, the largest number of species in commerce – and many of the most common – live in coastal areas, including blacktip, dusky, spinner and sandbar sharks. Scientists warn that without management, many coastal species could become extinct. “A few nations protect or sustainably hunt sharks and their relatives, but most do not for various reasons,” Chapman said. “Quite a few of the inshore sharks we found in the trade – such as smalltail, broadfin, whitehead and various thresher sharks, river sharks and small hammerhead species – are listed as endangered or critically endangered, and yet there are no regulations to protect them .” anywhere within their reach. If the relevant governments do not respond with leadership soon, we are likely to experience a wave of extinctions among coastal sharks and rays.”

Three coastal species are already thought to be extinct – all found in countries that did not regulate shark fishing. One way to encourage better management of species within nations is to list them on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that aims to protect animals and plants from overexploitation driven by international by trade. The 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to CITES will be held in November. This study will provide key evidence for the body’s deliberations by alerting governments to the plight of coastal sharks and showing that only a small percentage of the total shark fin trade is currently regulated by the Convention.

“At the upcoming CITES CoP19 governments have put forward proposals that would bring the vast majority of sharks traded for their fins under the Convention’s sustainability control, a measure that was based on the findings of this study. We are encouraged that CITES governments meet their level of ambition.” to the level of threat to sharks and rays worldwide, with CITES listings a strong driver for better domestic management of shark fisheries,” said Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society. If these proposals are accepted, states would be required to ensure that any export of the listed species is legal, traceable and sustainable.

“There is a furor of management actions that states can take to bring coastal shark fisheries under control and avert this extinction crisis,” Chapman said. “From changing fishing gear to creating protected areas to limiting catches, there are solutions.” Since our founding director, Dr. Eugenie Clark  Shark Lady  began her work documenting shark populations in Southwest Florida and around the world more than 65 years ago, pushing the boundaries of science to promote evidence-based sustainable use of our shared ocean resources has been at the core of Mote,” said Mote President and CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby. “We plan to continue this study’s vital work in monitoring commercial shark species through the collaboration of innovative science, community engagement and resource management, which together are critical to preventing the extinction of these species.””Our results highlight the high level of international trade and the clear gaps in the management of coastal species. Many of them are in the categories with the highest risk of extinction. The next category is extinction. We cannot allow this to happen,” said Cardeñosa.

Source Reference: Diego Cardeñosa, Stanley K. Shea, Huarong Zhang, Gunter A. Fischer, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Demian D. Chapman. Two thirds of species in a global shark fin trade hub are threatened with extinction: Conservation potential of international trade regulations for coastal sharks. Conservation Letters, 2022; DOI: 10.1111/conl.12910

Read Also:Space Focus: Why doesn’t Jupiter have rings like Saturn? Is Gigantic moons prevent the formation of giant ice rings?

[responsivevoice_button buttontext="Listen This Post" voice="Hindi Female"]

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

RELATED ARTICLES

Trending News

Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians, and the Quandary of IPL Allegiance, coupled with MI’s defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad

The recent Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans match witnessed Hardik Pandya facing criticism and scrutiny, reflecting underlying tensions within...

Skyroot Successfully Test-Fires Stage-2 of Vikram-1 Rocket, Marks Milestone in Indian Space Industry

In a significant development, Skyroot, an Indian space start-up, has achieved a major milestone by successfully conducting the test-firing...

U.S. Military Destroys Four Drones Launched by Iran-backed Houthi Forces in Yemen

In a recent development, the U.S. military announced its successful interception and destruction of four unmanned drones launched by...

Alia Bhatt Hosts Hope Gala in London, Raises Funds for Salaam Bombay Foundation

Actor Alia Bhatt graced the Hope Gala in London with her presence, shining a spotlight on a noble cause...