Reconstructing historical catch trends of threatened sharks and rays based on fisher ecological knowledge.

ABSTRACT: Small-scale fisheries often lack historical shark and ray catch information, hampering their management. We reconstructed historical catch trends and current fishing pressure by combining local ecological knowledge, satellite-based vessel counts, and a short-term landing-site survey. To test the effectiveness of this method, we focused on the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau, West Africa), where historical fisheries data are lacking. Benthic rays (stingrays [Dasyatidae] and butterfly rays [Gymnura spp.]), benthopelagic rays (duckbill eagle rays [Aetomylaeus bovinus] and cownose rays [Rhinoptera marginata]), guitarfish (Glaucostegus and Rhinobatos spp.), requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae), and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) declined in abundance by 81.5-96.7% (species dependent) from 1960

SUBMITTER: Leurs G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12451511 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature