Endangered species

With the highest percentage of threatened sharks and rays in the world, the Mediterranean region is in need of regional planning and policy development for the conservation and sustainable management of chondrichthyan fishes. This third report in the series of Mediterranean Red List Assessments presents the findings of an expert workshop at which 71 Mediterranean species of sharks, rays and chimaeras (cartilaginous fishes) were assessed using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

With the highest percentage of threatened sharks and rays in the world, the Mediterranean region is in need of regional planning and policy development for the conservation and sustainable management of chondrichthyan fishes. This third report in the series of Mediterranean Red List Assessments presents the findings of an expert workshop at which 71 Mediterranean species of sharks, rays and chimaeras (cartilaginous fishes) were assessed using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Chelonian Research Monographs is an international peer-reviewed scientific publication series for monograph-length manuscripts, collected proceedings of symposia, edited compilations, and other longer turtle-related research documents.

One of the main reasons cited for inadequate representation of biodiversity in the development processes is a lack of readily available information on inland water taxa. In response to this need for basic for information on species, the IUCN Species Programme conducted a regional assessment of the status and distribution of 2,261 taxa of freshwater fishes, molluscs, odonates, crabs and selected families of aquatic plants from throughout central Africa.

This report reviews the conservation status of all native marine fishes occurring in the Mediterranean Sea, based on the assessments for 513 species and 6 subspecies using the IUCN’s Red List methodology. It identifies those marine fish species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level so that appropriate conservation actions can be taken to improve their conservation status.

As part of a comprehensive strategy to highlight and help prioritize urgently needed conservation action for the most critically endangered turtles and tortoises in the world, the Turtle Conservation Coalition have highlighted the Top 25 most endangered species every four years since 2003. In this third installment, more than 25 species are covered and the information presented was provided by the coalition rather than solely by one or two organizations.