A team of global and regional experts recently came together to embark on a massive mission: mapping critical habitats for sharks, rays, and chimaeras across the captivating Mediterranean and Black Seas.
It’s estimated that there are around 78 species of elasmobranchs can be found here, having adapted to thrive in the diverse marine ecosystems of these underwater realms and adding to the richness and biodiversity of the region. During this five-day workshop, organized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group and hosted by iSea, over 180 experts from around the world worked tirelessly both online and in person to delineate what they call Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) in this region. Defined by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group as “discrete, three-dimensional portions of habitat, important for one or more shark species, that are delineated and have the potential to be managed for conservation,” it’s almost like giving them their own VIP section in the ocean. These include places where species of concern mate, reproduce, feed, rest, or aggregate as well as key stopovers during a migration. And while ISRAs themselves may not be ‘officially’ protected areas, they play a pivotal role in shaping policies and management measures.
https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproje...ated-in-the-mediterranean-and-black-seas/amp/
It’s estimated that there are around 78 species of elasmobranchs can be found here, having adapted to thrive in the diverse marine ecosystems of these underwater realms and adding to the richness and biodiversity of the region. During this five-day workshop, organized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group and hosted by iSea, over 180 experts from around the world worked tirelessly both online and in person to delineate what they call Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) in this region. Defined by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group as “discrete, three-dimensional portions of habitat, important for one or more shark species, that are delineated and have the potential to be managed for conservation,” it’s almost like giving them their own VIP section in the ocean. These include places where species of concern mate, reproduce, feed, rest, or aggregate as well as key stopovers during a migration. And while ISRAs themselves may not be ‘officially’ protected areas, they play a pivotal role in shaping policies and management measures.
https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproje...ated-in-the-mediterranean-and-black-seas/amp/