Only One Percent of Important Shark and Ray Areas in the Western Indian Ocean Are Fully Protected From Fishing Pressure

January 2026

Jesse E. M. Cochran, Ryan Charles, Andrew J. Temple, Peter M. Kyne, Emiliano García-Rodríguez, Adriana Gonzalez-Pestana, Amanda Batlle-Morera, Théophile L. Mouton, Asia O. Armstrong, Christoph A. Rohner, Darren J. Coker, Royale S. Hardenstine, Alexander Kattan, Ashlie J. McIvor, Viktor Nunes Peinemann, Kaitlyn A. O'Toole, Lea Palm, Eloise B. Richardson, Kalli Valappil Akhilesh, Haleh Ali Abedi, Reem K. Almealla, Dareen Almojil, Samantha Andrzejaczek, Arzucan N. Askin, Avik A. Banerjee, Hamid R. Bargahi, Alissa J. Barnes, Svetlana Barteneva-Vitry, Siamak Behzadi, Aymeric Bein, Rhett H. Bennett, Filippo Bocchi, Ginevra Boldrocchi, Gill T. Braulik, Camrin D. Braun, Eleanor Brighton, Frances K. P. Budd, Robert W. Bullock, Clara Canovas Perez, Aaron B. Carlisle, Michelle Carpenter, Taylor K. Chapple, Isabel Chaúca, Geremy Cliff, Estelle Crochelet, Nakia Cullain, David J. Curnick, Ryan Daly, Leigh de Necker, Stella Diamant, Giulia F. A. Donati, David A. Ebert, Ehab Eid, Igbal S. Elhassa, Chantel Elston, Bernadine I. Everett, Mahmoud M. S. Farrag, Nico Fassbender, Sean T. Fennessy, Stela M. C. Fernando, Brittany Finucci, Anna L. Flam, Peter Gausman, Arnault R. G. Gauthier, Giri Bhavan Sreekanth, Trisha Gupta, Meral Hafeez, Badrú N. Hagy, Jessica L. A. Haines, Joanna L. Harris, Jessica Harvey-Carroll, Tessa N. Hempson, Simon T. Hilbourne, Hua Hsun Hsu, Nor D. Ibrahim, David M. P. Jacoby, Sébastien Jaquemet, Idrees Babu K K, Divya Karnad, Boaz Kaunda-Arara, Shoba J. Kizhakudan, Alison A. Kock, Anna Koester, Bigeyo N. Kuboja, Baraka L. Kuguru, James S. E. Lea, Omar Mahadalle, Hashim Manjebrayakath, Christophe Mason-Parker, Daniel Mateos-Molina, Muktha Menon, Alec B. M. Moore, Johann Mourier, Taryn S. Murra, Ajay D. Nakhawa, Nadeem Nazurally, Lauren E. Nelso, John E. G. Nevill, Jennifer M. Olbers, Raquel L. Ostrovski, Lauren R. Peel, Nathan Perisic, Bradley Peterson, Simon J. Pierce, Simon J. Pittman, Shikha Rahangdale, Joshua Rambahiniarison, Ali Reza Rastgoo, Mohsen Rezaie-Atagholipour, David P. Robinson, Melita A. Samoilys, Tamaryn J. Sawers, Brittney J. Scannell, Jennifer V. Schmidt, Isabel M. Silva, Luis Silva, Jadiyde Solonomenjanahary, Julia L. Y. Spaet, Guy M. W. Stevens, Elspeth M. Strike, Sujitha Thomas, David van Beuningen, Stephanie K. Venables, Lennart Vossgaetter, Ornella C. Weideli, Ivor D. Williams, Collin T. Williams, Andrew J. Willson, Livi Wilson, Irthisham H. Zareer, Kaitlyn M. Zerr, Michael L. Berumen, Rima W. Jabado 

Keywords: Biodiversity • Conservation • Fisheries • Global Biodiversity Framework • Marine Spatial Planning • Threatened Species

Abstract

“The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is known for its high diversity of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras). However, intense fishing pressure has led to severe population declines and local extinctions of several species. The Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) process is a collaborative, evidence-based approach used to identify critical habitat for chondrichthyans. We analysed ISRAs across the WIO to quantify the diversity of research methods used to identify them, evaluate spatial overlap with designated marine protected areas (MPAs), model the influence of several species- and jurisdiction-specific variables on ISRA delineation, and explore the importance of incorporating unpublished data into the delineation process. In total, 125 ISRAs (covering > 2.8 million km2; ~10% of total regional surface area) were identified within the WIO from surface waters to ~2000 m depth. These ISRAs contain over one-third (n = 104, 39%) of the 270 chondrichthyan species reported from the region, with 76% being threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The underlying evidence supporting ISRA identification was primarily drawn from relatively inexpensive research methods, such as visual census (25%) or fish-market/landing site surveys (22.6%), as well as citizen science (9.5%). Incorporating unpublished records substantially increased the frequency of ISRA delineation, leading to expanded taxonomic and geographic coverage. Still, the full dataset was influenced by the same biases as the published record, tending to favour large-bodied, wide-ranging, and shallow-dwelling species. Only 7.1% of ISRAs are within designated MPAs, with just 1.2% in fully protected no-take areas. The highest no-take overlap occurs in the Seychelles and Chagos Archipelago. These findings highlight the shortfalls in spatial protection of chondrichthyan habitats, but also present a strategic opportunity for policy-makers and resource managers to improve current MPA coverage and meet their commitments under international agreements, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework.”

Author Affiliations

• Reef Ecology Lab, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

• International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group

• Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University

• Universidad Científica del Sur

• University of the Sunshine Coast

• Marine Megafauna Foundation

• KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

• Red Sea Global

• ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

• Midaf Nature Conservation Society

• Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education

• Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory, New York University Abu Dhabi

• Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University

• Miyaru—Shark Programme

• Wildlife Conservation Society—India Program

• Kish Island Fisheries Office

• Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation (MMCO)

• Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute (AREEO)

• Shark Citizen Association

• Wildlife Conservation Society—Western Indian Ocean Shark Program

• South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity

• Nature Friends of Maldives

• University of Plymouth

• University of Insubria

• Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews

• Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, IUCN SSC and WCPA

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

• Blue Safari Seychelles

• Alphonse Foundation

• The Manta Trust

• SOSF-D'arros Research Centre (SOSF)

• Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University

• Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

• University of Delaware

• University of Cape Town

• Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University

• Oceanographic Institute of Mozambique

• Wildtrust

• University of KwaZulu-Natal

• Mascarene Archipelago Elasmobranch Observatory (MAEO), ARBRE

• Marine Megafauna Foundation, Centro de Investigação Científica Megafauna Marinha

• Dalhousie University

• Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London

• Oceanographic Research Institute

• Madagascar Whale Shark Project Foundation

• Eawag

• Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft (WSL)

• Pacific Shark Research Center, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University

• Steering Committee, IUCN SSC

• University of Bahri

• Al-Azhar University

• Sea Around Us—Indian Ocean, University of Western Australia

• National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

• University of Tasmania

• Ruhr University Bochum

• University of Hamburg

• GIP—Centre Sécurité Requin

• ICAR Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute

• University of Oxford

• Zoological Society of London

• Maldives Manta Conservation Programme (MMCP)

• University of Victoria

• University of Exeter

• University of Plymouth, School of Biological and Marine Sciences

• University of Gothenburg

• Mission Blue

• ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University

• Coastal and Offshore Resources Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute

• National Sun Yat-Sen University

• Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Mogadishu

• City University of Mogadishu

• Lancaster University

• Université de La Réunion

• Department of Science & Technology, Kavaratti

• Lakshadweep Atoll Research Foundation

• Ashoka University

• University of Eldoret

• South African National Parks

• Seychelles Islands Foundation

• Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute

• Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF)

• University of Cambridge

• Silliman University

• National Museum of Somalia

• Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE)

• Marine Conservation Society Seychelles

• Emirates Nature—World Wide Fund for Nature

• Universidad de Murcia

• Bangor University

• Marbec, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, IRD

• Rhodes University

• University of Mauritius

• Hokkaido University

• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)

• Environment Seychelles

• Nelson Mandela University

• Save Our Seas Foundation D'arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC)

• Fuvahmulah Dream NGO

• Stony Brook University

• University of the Sunshine Coast

• Oxford University Centre for the Environment

• Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa

• Department of Environment of Hormozgan Province

• University of Manchester

• Qeshm Environmental Conservation Institute (QECI)

• Sundive Research

• Pwani University

• Shark Research Institute

• Universidade Lúrio

• Fundação Quirimbas

• Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Madagascar

• Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar

• University of Cambridge, Evolutionary Ecology Group

• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)

• University of Bremen

• Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL)

• Ocean Science and Solutions Applied Research Institute, NEOM

• Future Seas Global SPC

• James Cook University

Funded by

• Shark Conservation Fund

Contribution towards the Manta Trust's Strategic Plan

Goal 3: Strategic Objective 3.1 – All manta and devil ray species in the regions where we work are fully protected and conserved through species management plans. 

Goal 3: Strategic Objective 3.2 – Key manta and devil ray aggression sites in the regions where we work fall within protected areas that are effectively managed. 

Goal 4: Strategic Objective 4.1 – More people (a diverse range of individuals) local to manta and devil ray conservation initiatives play an active role in their design and implementation.