Shark Search Indo-Pacific

ABSTRACT of the paper 

Data on Chondrichthyes populations is largely lacking for many countries and territories in the Indo-Pacific. This report aims to assemble a desktop review on the biodiversity, conservation overview and threats to Chondrichthyes in the Samoan archipelago. Focusing on their interactions within fisheries and their social, cultural, and economic values. A total of 65 Chondrichthyes were documented to be present or potentially present in Samoa and American Samoa, consisting of 23 ray species and 42 shark species. Twenty of these species were listed by the IUCN as ‘vulnerable’, 11 as ‘endangered’ and four as critically endangered. A biological productivity analysis demonstrated that of the species with sufficient information to be assessed, five species ranked the highest in their productivity, these include: the grey reef (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis), blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus). Meanwhile the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) had the lowest productivity. Both Samoa and American Samoa have management plans in place to protect sharks and rays. These range from large shark sanctuaries to fishery management plans and community-based management programs. This study uses multiple information sources including the use of citizen science and in-country engagement to assemble a review of current available information on Samoan Chondrichthyes.    

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