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A journal dedicated to conservation and wildlife management in the Pacific region.
REVIEW

The sharks and rays of Palau: biological diversity, status, and social and cultural dimensions

Katelyn Hari https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0163-0664 A * , Vanessa Jaiteh B and Andrew Chin https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1813-4042 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4814, Australia.

B Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, PW-96940, Koror, Republic of Palau.

* Correspondence to: katelyn.hari@my.jcu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Alan Lymbery

Pacific Conservation Biology 28(5) 398-413 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20063
Submitted: 22 August 2020  Accepted: 22 July 2021   Published: 30 September 2021

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Anthropogenic pressures have been increasing on shark and ray populations globally, and their conservation and management can be compromised by lack of information on their diversity and status of species. This study presents a desktop review of the sharks and rays of the Republic of Palau, drawing on citizen science, fisheries data and other scientific literature to document their diversity, economic and cultural values, and pressures affecting their populations. This account of Palau’s sharks and rays includes a preliminary assessment of risks based-on existing risk assessments, and their biological productivity. Records were found documenting 56 sharks and rays in Palau: 31 species are considered here as ‘confirmed and verified’, 10 species as ‘requires verification’, and 11 species listed as ‘plausible’. An additional two species are listed as ‘unlikely’, and two species is ‘unknown’ due to the taxonomy being unclear. The biological productivity analysis showed that the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) had the lowest productivity of Palau’s sharks and rays, while the blue shark (Prionace glauca) showed the highest productivity of species examined. Historically, fishing mortality presented the most significant threat to Palau’s sharks and rays, but recent conservation initiatives have the potential to significantly reduce this threat as large areas are closed to fishing following the full implementation of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary in 2020. Palau’s sharks have a wide range of social and cultural values and are important to tourism. This study presents a new synthesis and overview of available information including citizen science, but also highlights the need for further local taxonomic work and research.

Keywords: analysis, biodiversity, citizen science, conservation, extinction risk, fisheries, management, productivity, shark sanctuary.


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