Musick, John

Many shark populations are in serious decline worldwide with little shark fisheries management in place. The IUCN Shark Specialist Group has compiled a Global Status Report for Chondrichthyan Fishes (the Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras), with Red List assessments for over 100 species and regional reports on the status of shark fisheries, together with information on taxonomy; life history; trade; socio-economics; threats; and conservation and management initiatives.

Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are the diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that have evolved over 400 million years. Historically considered of low economic value to large-scale fisheries, today many of these fishes have become the target of directed commercial and recreational fisheries around the world, and they are increasingly taken in the by-catch of fisheries targeting other species. This report emphasizes the widely-acknowledged need to improve shark fishery monitoring, expand biological research and take management action.

Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are the diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that have evolved over 400 million years. Historically considered of low economic value to large-scale fisheries, today many of these fishes have become the target of directed commercial and recreational fisheries around the world, and they are increasingly taken in the by-catch of fisheries targeting other species. This report emphasizes the widely-acknowledged need to improve shark fishery monitoring, expand biological research and take management action.