Total number of sharks and rays caught annually by small-scale fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean is estimated to be 2.5 million individuals – 73% more than officially reported.
Total number of sharks and rays caught annually by small-scale fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean is estimated to be 2.5 million individuals – 73% more than officially reported.
A study of small-scale fisheries operating from Kenya, Zanzibar and Madagascar, has revealed the massive underreporting of sharks and rays caught annually in the region.
Dominated by requiem, hammerhead, ground and hound sharks, the total annual catch of these vulnerable species equates to around 35,000 tonnes.
Led by experts at Newcastle University, UK, and published in the academic journal Biological Conservation, the team say the study highlights the substantial underreporting of catches by small scale fisheries and the urgent need to expand efforts globally to assess their impact on vulnerable species.
Read more at Newcastle University
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