Overfishing of Threatened Bycatch Species in a Marine Protected Area: The Elasmobranchs of Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania

A significant portion of elasmobranch (sharks and rays) catches in the Parc National du Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, consists of threatened species, with 94% of shark species and 76% of ray species facing extinction risks. Contrary to expectations for a marine protected area, these species were not incidental bycatch but rather targeted in artisanal fisheries using shark nets and meagre fixed gill nets. The study, spanning 1998–2020, found that while fishing effort increased around 2006 and catches rose, catch-per-unit-effort declined substantially. Researchers recommend targeted management strategies to protect these vulnerable species, including regulating fishing gear types and restricting trade in elasmobranch products from Banc d'Arguin.

Lemrabott, S. Y. C., van Leeuwen, A., Leurs, G., El‐Hacen, E.-H. M., Piersma, T., Sall, A. A., Sidina, E., Yarba, L., & Olff, H. (2024). Overfishing of Threatened Bycatch Species in a Marine Protected Area: The Elasmobranchs of Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 32(4), 97–106. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12786