New study finds reef shark conservation depends on protected areas and national fisheries management
May 20, 2024Marine protected areas (MPAs), areas that provide legal protection to important marine and coastal ecosystems, often have more reef sharks compared to non-protected areas, but according to a new study in Nature Ecology and Evolution by researchers of Curtin University, Mote Marine Laboratory, and others, finds that when MPAs are established in nations that also limit shark fishing through catch limits or gear restrictions, conservation benefits are doubled.