. Earth Science News .
WATER WORLD
Two thirds of reef sharks and rays risk extinction: study
By Kelly MACNAMARA
Paris (AFP) Jan 17, 2023

Nearly two thirds of the sharks and rays that live among the world's corals are threatened with extinction, according to new research published Tuesday, with a warning this could further imperil precious reefs.

Coral reefs, which harbour at least a quarter of all marine animals and plants, are gravely menaced by an array of human threats, including overfishing, pollution and climate change.

Shark and ray species -- from apex predators to filter feeders -- play an important role in these delicate ecosystems that "cannot be filled by other species", said Samantha Sherman, of Simon Fraser University in Canada and the wildlife group TRAFFIC International.

But they are under grave threat globally, according to the study in the journal Nature Communications, which assessed extinction vulnerability data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to look at 134 species of sharks and rays linked to reefs.

The authors found 59 percent of coral reef shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, an extinction risk almost double that of sharks and rays in general.

Among these, five shark species are listed as critically endangered, as well as nine ray species -- all so-called "rhino rays" that look more like sharks than stingrays.

- Keeping reefs healthier -

"It was a bit surprising just how high the threat level is for these species," Sherman told AFP.

"Many species that we thought of as common are declining at alarming rates and becoming more difficult to find in some places."

Sherman said the biggest threat to these species by far is overfishing.

Sharks are under most threat in the Western Atlantic and parts of the Indian Ocean, whereas the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia are the highest risks for rays.

These regions are heavily fished and do not currently have management in place to reduce the impact on these species, said Sherman.

Last year countries at a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species summit approved a plan to protect dozens of shark and ray species, adding 21 coral reef species in addition to the 18 species already covered by the regulations.

Sherman said this was "a step in the right direction", but added that a global effort was needed to improve implementation, while the regulations themselves do not stop these species being killed as "bycatch".

She added that the study showed greater risks to rays on coral reefs, but that they enjoy fewer protections.

"The solutions are similar for both sharks and rays -- limits on fishing, well placed and properly implemented Marine Protected Areas, and alternative livelihood solutions to reduce the number of fishers on coral reefs," Sherman said.

Coral reef fisheries directly support the livelihoods and food security of over half a billion people, but this crucial ecosystem is facing an existential threat by overexploitation and global heating.

Human-driven climate change has spurred mass coral bleaching as the world's oceans get warmer.

Modelling research has shown that even if the Paris climate goal of holding global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is reached, 99 percent of the world's coral reefs will not be able to recover.

At two degrees of warming, the number rose to 100 percent.

"We know coral reef health is declining, largely due to climate change, however, coral reef sharks and rays can help keep reefs healthier for longer," said Sherman.

The study was carried out by an international team of experts from universities, government and regional oceanic and fishery organisations as well as non-governmental organisations across the world.


Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


WATER WORLD
Eating one wild fish same as month of drinking tainted water: study
Paris (AFP) Jan 17, 2023
Eating one freshwater fish caught in a river or lake in the United States is the equivalent of drinking a month's worth of water contaminated with toxic "forever chemicals", new research said on Tuesday. The invisible chemicals called PFAS were first developed in the 1940s to resist water and heat, and are now used in items such as non-stick pans, textiles, fire suppression foams and food packaging. But the indestructibility of PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, means the pollutants have ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
Ukrainian deminers learn from decades of Cambodian experience

Drought, fire, flood: natural disasters test California town

Ukraine centre stage as Davos returns

California looks to drier times as Biden declares disaster to speed aid

WATER WORLD
Unibap receives order from Thales Alenia Space

Seoul launches ambitious metaverse platform for city services, tourism

Riot at Chinese-funded nickel plant in Indonesia kills two

China launches 3 new satellites

WATER WORLD
Two thirds of reef sharks and rays risk extinction: study

Graves sink, fisheries shrink as climate change hits Fiji

Eating one wild fish same as month of drinking tainted water: study

Simulations and experiments reveal unprecedented detail about water's motion in salt water

WATER WORLD
Runaway West Antarctic ice retreat can be slowed by climate-driven ocean temps

Polar bear kills woman and baby in remote Alaskan village

Study: Fast melting of Greenland Ice Sheet will affect sea-level rise

That sinking feeling: Are ice roads holding up under January's unseasonable warmth?

WATER WORLD
Argentine grain harvests threatened by persistent drought

Improving crop production in Kenya by up to 50 percent

Planet and NASA Harvest launch commercial partnership to advance food security

Agricultural droughts will continue across water-scarce Central Asia: Study

WATER WORLD
Looking back at the eruption that shook the world

7.0-magnitude quake hits eastern Indonesia, tsunami warning lifted

Flooded three times in two weeks, California town is fed up

6.2-magnitude quake hits off Indonesia's Sumatra: USGS

WATER WORLD
Yellen heads to Africa as US seeks closer ties amid China inroads

Mali gets more warplanes, helicopters from Russia

Al-Shabaab storms Somali military base in deadly attack

Senegalese soldier killed in clash with Casamance rebels: army

WATER WORLD
Norway reveals stone tablet providing clues to origins of Western writing

Intelligent Computing: The state of the art

Making fewer babies: the demographic decline

Childcare woes, costs and competition turn Chinese off parenting









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.