Browsing by Author "Micheli, Fiorenza"

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    Emergent research and priorities for shark and ray conservation
    Jorgensen, Salvador J.; Micheli, Fiorenza; White, Timothy D.; Van Houtan, Kyle S.; Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna; Andrzejaczek, Samantha; Arnoldi, Natalie S.; Baum, Julia K.; Block, Barbara; Britten, Gregory L.; Butner, Cheryl; Caballero, Susana; Cardeñosa, Diego; Chapple, Taylor K.; Clarke, Shelley; Cortés, Enric; Dulvy, Nicholas K.; Fowler, Sarah; Gallagher, Austin J.; Gilman, Eric; Godley, Brendan J.; Graham, Rachel T.; Hammerschlag, Neil; Harry, Alastair V.; Heithaus, Michael R.; Hutchinson, Melanie; Huveneers, Charlie; Lowe, Chris G.; Lucifora, Luis O.; MacKeracher, Tracy; Mangel, Jeffrey C.; Barbosa Martins, Ana Paula; McCauley, Douglas J.; McClenachan, Loren; Mull, Christopher; Natanson, Lisa J.; Pauly, Daniel; Pazmiño, Diana A.; Pistevos, Jennifer C.A.; Queiroz, Nuno; Roff, George; Shea, Brendan D.; Simpfendorfer, Colin A.; Sims, David W.; Ward-Paige, Christine; Worm, Boris; Ferretti, Francesco (Inter-Research, 2022-02-28)
    Over the past 4 decades there has been a growing concern for the conservation status of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). In 2002, the first elasmobranch species were added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Less than 20 yr later, there were 39 species on Appendix II and 5 on Appendix I. Despite growing concern, effective conservation and management remain challenged by a lack of data on population status for many species, human−wildlife interactions, threats to population viability, and the efficacy of conservation approaches. We surveyed 100 of the most frequently published and cited experts on elasmobranchs and, based on ranked responses, prioritized 20 research questions on elasmobranch conservation. To address these questions, we then convened a group of 47 experts from 35 institutions and 12 countries. The 20 questions were organized into the following broad categories: (1) status and threats, (2) population and ecology, and (3) conservation and management. For each section, we sought to synthesize existing knowledge, describe consensus or diverging views, identify gaps, and suggest promising future directions and research priorities. The resulting synthesis aggregates an array of perspectives on emergent research and priority directions for elasmobranch conservation.
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    Shark fin trade bans and sustainable shark fisheries
    Ferretti, Francesco; Jacoby, David M. P.; Pfleger, Mariah O.; White, Timothy D.; Dent, Felix; Micheli, Fiorenza; Rosenberg, Andrew A.; Crowder, Larry B.; Block, Barbara A. (2020)
    The U.S. Congress is currently discussing the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act to eliminate shark fin trade at the federal level. This bill was introduced in 2017 and has been proceeding very slowly in Congress because of mixed reviews from the scientific community. Debate exists on whether shark conservation and management are effectively addressed with tightened trade controls for imported shark products or blanket bans that outright end U.S. participation in the shark fin trade. Here we contribute to this debate with a review and analysis of economic, nutritional, ethical, and legal arguments, as well as of the shark fisheries status and shark fin trade. We show that the United States has a limited commercial interest in shark fisheries and contributes to the shark fin trade mainly as a facilitator. A fin trade ban has few tangible economic drawbacks but would have a considerable conservation impact. While making all shark fisheries sustainable is the ultimate goal, in practice this objective is far from achievable everywhere in the world. Conversely, banning shark fin trade is an interim measure that nations like the United States can take with negligible cost and can truly impact the biggest driver of shark exploitation globally.