The Important Shark and Ray Areas project is coming to North America! Colleagues, if you think your data suggests that you’ve identified an Important Shark and Ray Area in your study site, here’s how to submit your data and participate.

“The process is open to whoever wants to contribute,” García Rodríguez told me. “Submissions mostly come from scientists, but it’s not restricted to them. We have received proposals from dive operators, and have used data from social media, dive logbooks, recreational anglers, and traditional knowledge to identify ISRAs.”

If you think you have data and evidence supporting the identification of an ISRA, please double check in the ISRA guidance document. After you’ve done so, please contact the team at [email protected], and they will send you the form and explain the next steps. You’ll then submit a “preliminary area of interest,” which will be reviewed by the team at the upcoming workshop. Please note that only a limited number of people will be invited to participate in the workshop in person, but anyone contributing to the process can attend virtually.

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