Bending back the curve of shark and ray biodiversity loss

Sharks and rays are sending a stark warning about the state of the ocean — and it is one we can no longer ignore. Global populations have fallen by around 65% since 1950, with more than a third of species now threatened with extinction. Current extinction rates are estimated to be 25–250 times higher than natural background levels, with the greatest losses occurring in tropical coastal seas.

Yet this is not a story of inevitable decline. Our new global review, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, shows that where fishing pressure has been reduced through science-based limits, trade controls, and effective enforcement, shark and ray populations are already recovering. Overfishing and weak management remain the dominant threats — not because solutions are lacking, but because implementation has lagged behind commitment.

We highlight a critical need for alignment: international conservation pledges must translate into national fisheries rules; catch and trade must be tracked at the species level; and small-scale fisheries need support to become sustainable rather than being pushed aside. Conservation efforts must also address the full supply chain, from fishing to trade and consumer demand.

The science is clear and the tools already exist. With sustained political will and investment, it is still possible to bend the curve of shark and ray biodiversity loss — and secure healthier oceans for the future. Read the paper: Dulvy, and E2O grads (Aitchison, Arnold, Vanderwright) et al. "Bending back the curve of shark & ray biodiversity loss." tinyurl.com/SharksNRBD