It’s no secret that sharks, rays, and chimaeras are disappearing at an alarming rate. It’s also no secret that overfishing remains the biggest threat, with demand for their meat surging worldwide. Simply put, more sharks and rays are being taken from the ocean than populations can replace, making it increasingly difficult for species to recover. But while populations continue to plummet across most of the globe, Australia has emerged as an exception, offering a much-needed success story in this otherwise bleak narrative.
Let’s rewind. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has just released a landmark report on the global status of these species. Compiled by more than 350 specialists from over 100 countries, the document spans thousands of pages and provides the most comprehensive assessment to date. Previous assessments already painted a grim picture, with a third of sharks, rays, and chimaeras classified as threatened with extinction. Over the past 20 years, global demand for shark and ray meat has nearly doubled, now surpassing the value of the shark fin trade by 1.7 times.
The latest report’s findings are stark.
It’s no longer just fins driving exploitation—ray gill plates, liver oil, and even skins are now highly sought after, pushing more species toward the brink. The crisis is worsening.
Yet, Australia appears to be bucking the trend. Dr. Andrew Chin, Director of JCU’s Fish and Fisheries Lab, says that Australia’s strong fisheries management is playing a crucial role in preventing the catastrophic declines seen elsewhere. With a quarter of the world’s shark and ray species found in Australian waters, the country’s conservation efforts have global significance.
Australia’s history of proactive research and management has allowed targeted shark fisheries to remain sustainable or, in cases where overfishing has occurred, to support stock recovery. However, as fisheries stock assessment scientist Dr. Jonathan Smart points out, non-target species remain at risk: “The greatest risk to populations is through by-catch [the accidental capture of sharks and rays in fisheries targeting other species] of non-target species that cannot tolerate moderate to high levels of fishing pressure.”
Beyond overfishing, habitat loss remains a pressing issue. Dr. Ana Barbosa Martins warns that “there are also risks from habitat loss related to development, resource extraction and some types of fishing,” which contribute to the degradation of key habitats that these species rely on for survival. And while Australia’s fisheries management is strong, there is still room for improvement. Dr. Michael Grant, a JCU researcher and editor of the IUCN report, emphasizes the need to fill critical knowledge gaps. “The report identifies gaps in knowledge about population trends, improvements in bycatch mitigation along with improved knowledge of habitat degradation and pollution as areas where Australia can improve,” he explains.
The importance of sharks, rays, and chimaeras extends far beyond their ecological role. These species hold deep cultural and socioeconomic value, particularly for Indigenous and coastal communities. JCU Masters student Melissa Ciampaglia underscores that understanding these human-wildlife connections is essential: “[These interactions] shape how governments, industries, people, and communities value their sharks, rays, and chimaeras, and engage with conserving and managing them.”
Ultimately, the latest IUCN report serves as a warning: without urgent global intervention, shark and ray populations will continue to decline, with far-reaching consequences for ocean ecosystems. It seems that alarm bells are going off at an alarming rate for the environment, which can be overwhelming for any individual to try to tackle on their own. Thankfully, Dr. Rima Jabado says coordinated efforts will be key in making a difference for sharks and the habitats they have an impact on. The Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Shark Specialist Group points out that Australia’s approach proves that sustainable shark fisheries are possible, offering hope that other nations can follow suit. It’s simple, she concludes: if we want these species to thrive in the future, governments, conservationists, and fisheries must act now.
This story was originally published on forbes.com.
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