ABSTRACT
It is now clear that shark2 populations worldwide have experienced large-scale declines (Bonfil et al., 2005; Dulvy et al., 2008). The main cause is the continued and rapid expansion of global fishing fleets, coupled with the naturally low population growth rates of most sharks (Smith et al., 1998). Though there are several charismatic shark species, such as whale sharks (Rhyncodon typus), elasmobranchs as a group have historically been overlooked in conservation efforts, largely due to a lack of fisheries data and perhaps also to a generally negative public image (Topelko and Dearden, 2005). For example, almost half of all elasmobranchs listed under the IUCN as threatened or endangered were added since 2009 (Biery et al., 2011). While this is startlingly recent, it is also an encouraging action on the part of managers, conservation groups, the public and academics concerned with shark conservation.
