Can MPAs save sharks?

Sharks face an unprecedented global conservation crisis. One commonly advocated tool for tackling this crisis are protected areas, ranging from small marine reserves to ‘Shark Sanctuaries’ that vary in size and extent of... [ view full abstract ]

Sharks face an unprecedented global conservation crisis. One commonly advocated tool for tackling this crisis are protected areas, ranging from small marine reserves to ‘Shark Sanctuaries’ that vary in size and extent of protection. However, there is limited information on which to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches in reversing the global decline of sharks and rays. Furthermore managers and policy makers require a means to define areas where conservation outcomes for sharks and rays may be best achieved with marine reserves. This symposium will explore the ecological, socioeconomic and design drivers that influence the success of spatial management for improving the conservation outcomes for sharks and rays.