Western indian ocean’s sharks and rays face extinction crisis as critical habitats remain largely unprotected

Nearly half of the Western Indian Ocean’s 270 shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction, yet the vast majority of their critical habitats remain unprotected, according to a groundbreaking study by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group.

Researchers identified 125 Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) spanning 2.8 million square kilometers across the region, which stretches from South Africa to the Indian subcontinent and includes nations like Seychelles and the Maldives. These areas represent vital breeding grounds, feeding sites, and migration corridors essential for species survival. However, the study revealed a shocking protection gap: only 7.1% of these critical habitats overlap with any marine protected areas, and a mere 1.2% fall within fully protected no-take zones where fishing is prohibited.

“The most striking finding is how poorly these important habitats are currently protected,” said Rima Jabado, chair of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. “The vast majority of places that are essential for sharks and rays remain open to fishing pressure.” ISRAs are designated using standardized, evidence-based criteria that reflect how these marine species use ocean space throughout their entire life cycles, from juvenile nursery areas to adult feeding and mating grounds.

The research underscores an urgent conservation crisis, as these apex predators face mounting threats from overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. Without immediate action to establish comprehensive marine protection in these identified areas, the Western Indian Ocean could lose nearly half of its shark and ray species to extinction.