The third Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) regional expert workshop was held in hybrid mode (in person and online) in Durban, South Africa from 11–15 September 2023. 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 the Western Indian Ocean. This scientific collaboration amongst regional and global experts resulted in the identification of 125 Important Shark and Ray Areas, 1 candidate ISRA, and 45 Areas of Interest. Identified ISRAs range in size from small areas of 0.03 km² at depths of 0–40 m (Maroshi Thila in the Maldives) to very large areas of 1,454,950 km² (Western Agulhas Front which is completely in areas beyond national jurisdiction [ABNJ]) from surface waters to a depth of 180 m.

© International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Shark Specialist Group, 2023