2016 SoE Marine Chapter - State and Trends - Sharks and rays (elasmobranchs)

Brief description

The Marine chapter of the 2016 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "The state and trends of quality of species and groups – sharks and rays (elasmobranchs)". The full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided), is attached to this record. Where available, the Data Stream(s) used to generate this Expert Assessment are accessible through the "On-line Resources" section of this record. ---------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF TAXONOMIC GROUP FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT Conservation of elasmobranchs is an increasing priority as evidence of overexploitation of some species becomes increasingly apparent (e.g., Stevens et al. 2000, Graham et al. 2001, Clarke et al. 2006, Dulvy et al. 2008, Dulvy et al. 2014). Australia has ~307 elasmobranch species that occur in marine environments in all bioregions, with about half being endemic. DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT Data primarily collected from an expert panel of elasmobranch researchers and fisheries scientists during an IUCN Shark Specialist Group Red List workshop in February 2015 (report still in prep) as part of a FRDC Shark Report Card project (www.sharkreportcard.org) ---------------------------------------- 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details] • 2016 • Assessment grade: Good Assessment trend: Unclear Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus Comparability: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessment • 2011 • Assessment grade: Good Assessment trend: Stable Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus ---------------------------------------- CHANGES SINCE 2011 SOE ASSESSMENT Largely agrees with 2011 SOE assessment, however there are few data available on population abundances or trends for most species so trend can only be regarded as unclear rather than stable.

Lineage

Statement: QUALITY OF DATA USED IN THE ASSESSMENT Varies between species but incorporates the most recent and up to date information available for all Australian species of elasmobranch.

Notes

Purpose
To describe the state and trends in populations of sharks and rays (elasmobranchs) for use in the Marine chapter of the 2016 State of the Environment report.