Are sharks safer in sanctuaries?

The paper, published in 2017 in Global Environmental Change, shows that while each country showed specific trends, some generalisations could be made. Declines in shark populations appear to be less pronounced: there is less evidence of sharks and their products being sold in local markets; and the threat of fishing was lower inside designated shark sanctuaries. When asked about the outlook for sharks in the region, divers in shark sanctuaries seemed more positive about their conservation, although they did point out the need for other interventions.

However, there are certain chal­lenges that are not adequately addressed by shark sanctuaries: pollution, habitat loss, ghost fishing gear and by-catch are issues that require other means of mitigation. The authors emphasise the need for ‘higher-resolution data on shark abundance, incidental catch and markets to direct priority conservation needs and optimise the conservation benefits of existing and future shark sanctuaries’. They conclude that shark sanctuaries are useful in the arsenal of conservation tools, but need the support of other measures to protect sharks adequately.