Shark and ray MPAs: the current state of play

A rapid increase in areas of the ocean designated as shark and ray MPAs has led to debate about their effectiveness. We reviewed the available literature on how sharks and rays benefit from spatial protections, as well as the... [ view full abstract ]

A rapid increase in areas of the ocean designated as shark and ray MPAs has led to debate about their effectiveness. We reviewed the available literature on how sharks and rays benefit from spatial protections, as well as the more general MPA literature. The effectiveness of spatial protection depends a wide range of factors, including level of planning, governance, socioeconomic considerations and enforcement. The species most commonly reported to benefit from spatial protection are those that use reef habitat for part or all of their lives with the key biological attributes of residency, philopatry, site fidelity and critical habitat use. Wide ranging species that do not regular use a particular area derive less benefits from spatial protection as the scale of their movements is beyond the size of even large MPAs. The main MPA design and management features that benefit sharks and rays are isolated location, long-term protection, no-take or reduced fishing pressure and high value habitat. It is crucial to reduce shark and ray mortality for long-term maintenance of viable populations and spatial protection achieves this to varying degrees. MPAs can make a significant contribution to sharks and ray conservation but could be markedly improved by a systematic approach that establishes well-defined goals and conservation targets, and incorporates the best available science on shark movement, habitat use and information on socioeconomic factors. When combined with sufficient resources, this would ensure that spatial protection of shark and rays has the capacity to make long-term significant advances for shark conservation.