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1/11 Our new study is now out in @nature: Half a century of global decline in oceanic #sharks and #rays. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03173-9
2/11 This work documents an alarming, ongoing, global decline of oceanic shark and ray populations over the past 50 years, mostly due to overfishing. The associated elevated extinction risk jeopardizes the health of ocean ecosystems and food security in many developing nations.
3/11 It is a part of the #GlobalSharkTrends Project and is a collaboration between the @iucnssc @IUCNshark SG, @SFU_Science, @jcu, and @GeorgiaAquarium, fund by @SharkRayFund
4/11 We calculated 2 #Biodiversity Indicators established by @UNBiodiversity: #LivingPlanetIndex (LPI) on global population changes since 1970 and the @IUCNRedList Index, which tracks changes in extinction risk. These indicators quantify progress toward the @UN_SDG #GlobalGoals
5/11 The global abundance of oceanic sharks and rays has declined by nearly three-quarters
(71%) over the last 50 years primarily due to overfishing. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/climate/sharks-population-study.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes @nytimes
(71%) over the last 50 years primarily due to overfishing. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/climate/sharks-population-study.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes @nytimes
6/11 The decline coincides with a doubling of fishing pressure and a tripling of catches,
amounting to an 18-fold increase in Relative Fishing Pressure (exploitation relative to the
number of fish left). @NatGeo @timvernimmen https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2021/01/oceanic-sharks-and-rays-collapsed-by-seventy-percent/
amounting to an 18-fold increase in Relative Fishing Pressure (exploitation relative to the
number of fish left). @NatGeo @timvernimmen https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2021/01/oceanic-sharks-and-rays-collapsed-by-seventy-percent/
7/11 Three-quarters (75%) of these iconic species now qualify as threatened with extinction under the @IUCN Red List criteria, and half 16/31 are Endangered or Critically Endangered. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55830732?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bbbc.news.twitter%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D&at_campaign=64&at_custom2=%5BService%5D&at_custom3=BBC+Science+News&at_medium=custom7&at_custom4=A55C5042-60B9-11EB-AB66-FCDD4744363C&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D @BBCWorld
8/11 The decline may be even more severe as these analyses start in 1970 while fishing fleets
have been expanding globally since before the 1950s.
have been expanding globally since before the 1950s.
9/11 The @UN_SDG #GlobalGoals and specific @UNBiodiversity #Aichi Targets (to reverse
population declines and use marine resources sustainably) for the year 2020 were not met
for these species.
population declines and use marine resources sustainably) for the year 2020 were not met
for these species.
10/11 A huge congrats and thanks to lead author Nathan Pacoureau and all co-authors: @crigby4 @spottedcatshark, @rbsherley, @henning_winker, John Carlson, @SharkAdvocates, @rrpbarreto,
11/11 @danielfernan7, Malcolm Francis, @ElasmoProject, @katelynherman07, Kwang-Ming Liu, @QueenofMantas, Evgeny Romanov, @SharkColin, Jamie Yin, @HollyKindsvater, and @NickDulvy
