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Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA)

Porcupine ray (Urogymnus asperrimus)

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Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

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Leopard Whipray (Himantura leoparda)

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Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA)

Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) are “discrete, tri-dimensional portions of habitat, important for one or more shark species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation”.

ISRA

Why Important Shark and Ray Areas?

Chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras – hereafter referred to as ‘sharks’) are facing a global extinction crisis. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it is now estimated that over one-third of sharks are threatened with extinction. Over the last century, fisheries have had a massive cumulative impact on sharks and this threat has been compounded by habitat loss and climate change. Threat levels are highest in coastal habitats where 75% of threatened species occur. This makes sharks one of the most threatened taxon in the marine environment, second only to Amphibians at the global scale.

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Sand tiger shark
Carcharias taurus

Bluespotted Lagoon Ray
Taeniura lymma

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What are ISRA?

ISRA are not MPAs. The identification of ISRA is an evidence-driven, purely biocentric process based on the application of scientific criteria supported by the best available science.

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NEWS

Stay updated on ISRA developments from around the world

Australia mapped into global sharks and rays database

2026-03-13

A global database documenting the location of critical habitats for sharks, rays, and chimaeras has recently expanded to include Australia, with years of extensive research by Charles Darwin University (CDU) contributing to this crucial digital record.

Mapping the path to protecting the world’s threatened sharks and rays – Important Shark and Ray Areas identified in Australian waters

2026-02-17

158 Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) have been identified across Australia and the Southeast Indian Ocean, including 143 within State and Territory jurisdictions.