Documentation and conservation status of Sharks, Skates, Rays and Chimaera from Andaman Islands, India

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the largest oceanic archipelago system, located between lat. 6 ͦ - 14 ͦ N and Long. 92 ͦ - 94 ͦ E in southern reaches of Indian Ocean. About 28% of country’s Exclusive Economic Zone... [ view full abstract ]

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the largest oceanic archipelago system, located between lat. 6 ͦ - 14 ͦ N and Long. 92 ͦ - 94 ͦ E in southern reaches of Indian Ocean. About 28% of country’s Exclusive Economic Zone falls under its territorial jurisdiction encompassing 1,192 km coastline (Comprising 572 Islands). Taxonomic study of chondrichthyans (Sharks, Skates, Rays and Chimaera) from Andaman Islands is very limited. This study highlights the recent record of species distributed and their conservation status based on previous literature as well as from the present findings from these Islands. This attempt is undertaken considering the collection of specimens from fish landing centers, fish market and deep-sea oceanographic exploratory surveys (FORV Sagar Sampada) around Andaman Islands during 2014 - 2017. Present study found the occurrence and addition of 17 species to the chondrichthyans fauna that makes a total of 81 species, covering 10 orders and 30 families with Chimaeras (2), sharks (49), Skates (1), Rays (22), Sawfishes (3) and Guitar fishes (4)]. The conservation status of chondrichthyans from these islands is presented, which comprehended to 10% as Least Concern (LC), 15% Data Deficient (DD), 5% Critically Endangered (CR), 9% Endangered (EN), 30% Vulnerable (VU), 30% Near Threatened (NT) and 1% Not Evaluated (NE). An integrated approach in order to tackle problems on over exploitation and environmental degradation needs to be established for sustainable utilization and formulating conservation and management of these resources.

Keywords: chondrichthyans, biodiversity, documentation, conservation status, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India