The importance of research and public opinion to conservation management of sharks and rays: a synthesis

By C. Simpfendorfer, M. Heupel, W. White, N. Dulvy. 2011

280 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Growing concern for the world's shark and ray populations is driving the need for greater research to inform conservation management. A change in public perception, from one that we need to protect humans from sharks to one where we must protect sharks from humans, has added to calls for better management. The present paper examines the growing need for research for conservation management of sharks and rays by synthesising information presented in this Special Issue from the 2010 Sharks International Conference and by identifying future research needs, including topics such as taxonomy, life history, population status, spatial ecology, environmental effects, ecosystem role and human impacts. However, this biological and ecological research agenda will not be sufficient to fully secure conservation management. There is also a need for research to inform social and economic sustainability. Effective conservation management will be achieved by setting clear priorities for research with the aid of stakeholders, implementing well designedresearchprojects,buildingthecapacityforresearch,andclearlycommunicatingtheresultstostakeholders.Ifthis can be achieved, it will assure a future for this iconic group, the ecosystems in which they occur and the human communities that rely on them.

Subfields: Aquatic Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/126b9866ba3e3ecf155435787ec3852a0094f164

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Aquatic Science

1. C. Simpfendorfer
2. M. Heupel
3. D. Knip
4. N. Dulvy
5. W. White
6. N. Hammerschlag
7. A. Cooper
8. Gavin J. P. Naylor

In Nature and Landscape Conservation

1. C. Simpfendorfer
2. M. Heupel
3. D. Knip
4. N. Dulvy
5. W. White
6. A. Gallagher
7. N. Hammerschlag
8. A. Cooper

Citations in the corpus

• Phylogeny of the manta and devilrays (Chondrichthyes: mobulidae), with an updated taxonomic arrangement for the family (2018, background): “Taxonomy is recognized as the foundation that underpins our knowledge of biodiversity (Simpfendorfer et al., 2011).”
• Stable isotope analysis as a tool for elasmobranch conservation research: a primer for non-specialists (2012, methodology): “nursery grounds) linked to important ecological processes such as mating, pupping and foraging are priorities for implementing effective elasombranch conservation and management strategies (Simpfendorfer et al. 2011).”
• Extinction risk and bottlenecks in the conservation of charismatic marine species (2012, background): “The rapid rebranding of sharks as vulnerable and charismatic has also promoted research and the growth of professional societies dedicated to the science, conservation, and management of elasmobranchs (Simpfendorfer et al. 2011).”
• Evaluating marine protected areas for the conservation of tropical coastal sharks (2012, background): “Thus, movement data from tracking studies can be used to help identify when MPAs may be an effective conservation strategy for elasmobranch populations (Simpfendorfer et al., 2011), and when other approaches may be more feasible (e.”