SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Issue 12, May 2016 | Page 100

Historic shark census

catches predators

on camera

Three-year project to aid conservation efforts

By JoAnn C. Adkins | [email protected]

Researchers have embarked on the largest-ever attempt to survey the world’s shark populations.

Predators are disappearing from the oceans in alarming numbers with nearly a quarter of shark, ray and skate species threatened with extinction. The lack of comprehensive and up-to-date data on species abundance and distribution is hindering efforts to protect and replenish these ecologically important marine animals.

Deploying baited underwater video equipment, researchers hope to catch the ocean’s top predators on camera in their natural habitats. The project, dubbed Global FinPrint, is focusing on three key geographic regions where data gaps exist — Indo-Pacific, tropical western Atlantic, and southern and eastern Africa and Indian Ocean islands. Lead researchers hail from Florida International University in Miami, Fla., and Stony Brook University in New York. Together, they are working with an international team of scientists, partners and organizations to collect data.

“Global FinPrint will help us better understand one of the ocean’s great mysteries: What is happening with fragile marine ecosystems when sharks are removed?” said Demian Chapman, marine scientist from Stony Brook and lead researcher on the project. “Are coral reefs healthier or faster to recover from disturbances like coral bleaching or hurricanes because they have sharks? These are hugely important questions. Many countries rely on healthy coral reefs for food security, tourism and coastal protection.”

To date, researchers have surveyed 5,000 locations across more than 100 reefs around Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, Indonesia and Madagascar. The researchers hope to reach 10,000 deployments by the end of 2016. The project calls for 400 reefs across the world to be surveyed during the three-year project.

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