The fourth Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) regional expert workshop was held in hybrid mode (in person and online) in Bali, Indoneisa from 22–26 January 2024. The goal was to identify and delineate three-dimensional and discrete portions of habitat that are critical to the survival of sharks, rays, and chimaeras (hereafter ‘sharks’), and that have the potential to be managed for conservation. The region covered was Asia. This scientific collaboration amongst regional and global experts resulted in the identification of 122 Important Shark and Ray Areas, 4 candidate ISRA, and 45 Areas of Interest. Identified ISRAs range in size from small areas of 0.96 km2 at depths of 0–25 m (Puerco Island in the Philippines) to very large areas of 420,817 km2 (Papua-Micronesia Corridor which spans waters of Indonesia, Federated States of Micronesia, and areas beyond national jurisdiction [ABNJ]) from surface waters to a depth of 1,928 m.

© International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Shark Specialist Group, 2024