By Inbakandan Dhinakarasamy on 30 November 2018.
Photo of Reef Manta Ray, Mobula alfredi (CC BY 2.0), Elias Levy/Flickr. View assessment details in the new IUCN Red List site.
The Indian Ocean is increasingly becoming a destination for cartilaginous marine species. Just two years ago 13 new species of rays and sharks were recorded in the Indian waters by researchers using DNA bar-coding. Meanwhile, sharks and rays also suffer from being captured as fishery resource in Indian EEZ. For decades now, in the east coast of India, sharks and rays have been threatened by fishing practices – commercial, artisan and recreational alike. On the other hand, our scientific knowledge of vulnerable species can be used for public involvement in conservation initiatives.
Fishing practices threaten survival of sharks and rays
While climate change, pollution and habitat degradation are common threats to life in oceans, a team of 300 members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group have globally assessed the major cause of vulnerability to extinction as over fishing. A National Geographic article published in this July, brings out the devastating effect on shark and ray population due to an exponential increase fishing of the species as well as destruction of critical habitats caused by poor management and exploitation of coastal ecosystems. Ecosystem management practices most certainly benefit from involving fishermen and other stakeholders who can play a leadership role in successfully managing habitats and environment conducive to protecting the species.
In India, Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, has taken up the task of investigating the preliminary landing data, biological characteristics and diversity of elasmobranchs along the coast of Tamilnadu such as Chennai, Nagapattinam and Tuticorin. One problem that has been identified to disadvantage conservation efforts in this region, is the lack of knowledge on endangered species among those involved in fishing industry.
Species identification flyers prepared in local language (Tamil) being circulated among fishermen for conservation of sharks and rays. Photo: Inbakandan Dhinakarasamy, IUCN CEM
Stakeholder-awareness for conservation of threatened species in Tamil Nadu
Public awareness and involvement is critical to conserve sharks and rays in the coastal waters of Tamil Nadu. Thus, the Centre for Ocean Research is carrying out an awareness campaign since 2015 for conservation of sharks and rays, with the support of Rufford foundation – where fishermen are the key agents of change. In this project, species identification flyers prepared in local language (Tamil) are circulated among fishermen, boat owners and other stakeholders to create awareness on the red listed species and their importance in the ecosystem.
Inbakandan Dhinakarasamy, PhD, is Scientist– E & Associate Professor with Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. Inbakandan is also commission member of IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (2017-2020).