FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ISRAs
Background and Introduction
What is an ISRA?
An Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) is defined as a ‘discrete, three-dimensional portion of habitat, important for one or more species of shark, ray, or chimaera species, that has the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation.’ This designation occurs through a clear and transparent process, which is undertaken by a core team and regional experts. Identification of an area as an ISRA does not automatically convey any management or conservation protections, but identifies and area for possible future conservation and management actions.
Why might some areas of the aquatic environment be more important for sharks, rays, and chimaeras than others?
The aquatic environment is complex and encompasses a diversity of habitat types and oceanographic conditions. Some species are only found on coral reefs, while others prefer to live in kelp forests, and still others need a sandy or muddy substrate. Some of these habitats may be especially important for certain species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras because they serve as nursery areas, where young individuals can grow up safe from predators, or may have complex 3D bottom structures that are important for laying eggs. Some may be important migratory routes that animals pass through on their way to a seasonal habitat. Others may be sites where many individuals aggregate for mating, or to take advantage of a seasonal increase in food. The aquatic environment isn’t all the same, some areas are more important for some species for a variety of reasons. This is what the ISRA project is trying to identify and map.
What are the goals of the ISRA project?
Our overall goal is to consolidate and use the best available scientific data and local ecological knowledge to identify as many areas of the aquatic environment that are important to shark, ray, and chimaera species as possible. This is done through the ISRA process (described in more detail below), which involves a series of regional workshops with expert colleagues to gather knowledge and delineate areas of special importance. The areas are identified and proposed before a workshop, are agreed by consensus during those workshops, and then go through independent expert peer review. A downstream positive outcome of this project would be for the important areas we identify to be considered for additional protection by the relevant legal authorities, which happens independently from the ISRA process and team.
Does the identification of ISRAs take into account human activities?
ISRAs are completely biocentric, based only on the needs of sharks. Other considerations such as human activities and livelihoods that are an integral part of the environment are not encompassed in this process. We acknowledge that these important aspects should be considered by policy-makers when using area-based approaches to conservation.
Are ISRAs the same as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?
No, Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) are not Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). An ISRA is the result of scientific data and processes identifying that an area is important and should be considered for relevant conservation and management protections, but does not inherently convey any legal protection. ISRAs are a tool that can be used to guide the development, design, and application of area-based conservation initiatives, including but not limited to MPAs.
Additionally, not all ISRAs will become MPAs. Some may already be part of MPAs, while others may never become part of MPAs. It is still useful to identify and understand the habitat usage and distribution of species of interest, which can help to inform ongoing area-based conservation processes around the world.
Are ISRAs a tool for regulating fisheries and/or other threatening processes?
ISRAs are not a management or compliance tool. They are the result of a scientific process that focuses solely on identifying areas of the aquatic environment that are important for sharks, rays, and chimaeras. The resulting identified areas and associated data can be used by governments, organizations, or researchers to inform and implement management strategies.
What types of species assessments can be used to identify ISRAs based on Criterion A?
Shark species listed on the IUCN Red List in the categories of Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable qualify for ISRA Criterion A. However, other available processes and assessments (e.g., national regulatory and legal frameworks such as the US Endangered Species Act, Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act [EPBC], Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans [RSCAP], Regional Fishery Body assessments, or national assessments of risk) can also be used to identify an ISRA based on Criterion A.
If an area has not been identified as an ISRA does that mean it is not important?
No, identification of an ISRA has been undertaken to recognise the location as a regular habitat of sharks according to their usage or occurrence there under one or more of the ISRA Criteria. If an area where sharks occur has not been identified as an ISRA, it may simply be because there is not yet sufficient data available or it has not been nominated as a preliminary Area of Interest (pAoI). Nominations of pAoI’s can be made by contacting the ISRA Team, or through the ISRA website (www.sharkrayareas.org)
How were the ISRA Criteria developed?
The ISRA Criteria were developed by a consultative process led by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, IUCN Ocean Team, and IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force. Four workshops were held in early 2022 to gather feedback and discuss key biological, ecological, and behavioural traits of sharks which affect their habitat use in the context of area-based planning. Draft ISRA Criteria then went through a thorough process of peer-review before finalisation.
Why were ISRAs developed instead of using the Key Biodiversity Area approach?
ISRAs are not identified using quantitative thresholds like KBAs but rather based on qualitative criteria designed to encompass the broad range of habitat needs and the biological or ecological complexities of sharks. These traits are not easily addressed within the KBA criteria. However, where quantitative data are available, and have relevance to a specific ISRA criteria, they can allow for an ISRA to align with KBA quantitative thresholds and support the additional development of a KBA in a region through the appropriate processes.
The ISRA Process
What is the process for identifying an ISRA?
Anyone can propose a potential ISRA by nominating and gathering background to create a preliminary Area of Interest (pAoI). These then go to the formal expert workshops for consideration where they may be proposed and become candidate ISRAs (cISRAs). Some may not reach this stage and remain as proposals. cISRAs will then go to an Independent Review Panel who will either accept the cISRA to become an ISRA, or send it back as a cISRA or AoI, to be reconsidered in the future.
The below process flowchart provides an overview of the various steps.
Who is on the ISRA team, and who decides whether an area is an Important Shark and Ray Area?
The Important Shark and Ray Areas project team consists of marine biologists and conservation scientists from all over the world. Team members have in depth knowledge on the biology, habitat usage, behavior, ecology, and conservation of shark, rays, and chimaeras. In addition to our core team, we hold a series of regional workshops around the world, and invite regional experts to participate and contribute their knowledge and data. Our Central and South American Pacific workshop included 55 experts from the region, our Mediterranean and Black Seas workshop included 180 experts, and our Western Indian Ocean workshop included 205 experts. The outputs of these workshops are reviewed by another group of experts, our Independent Review Panel. While not any entity or person can identify an ISRA, any entity or person can propose a preliminary Area of Interest, which would then be reviewed by experts at regional workshops.
I’m a scientist who studies the habitat usage of threatened species of sharks, rays, and/or chimaeras. How can I contribute data to an ISRA workshop? Can I participate in an ISRA workshop?
The ISRA project is hosting a series of 13 regional workshops, with reassessments planned every ten years. When the ISRA project is focusing on a region, we will announce a call for contributions (follow us on social media to be sure to receive updates). Contributions are made via a proposal form that allows contributors to submit a proposed preliminary Area of Interest. These proposed preliminary Areas of Interest may eventually become Important Shark and Ray Areas, or they may be modified slightly or significantly, or they may not be used, depending on the input of the regional workshop participants and the Independent Review Panel. Please follow guidelines on the proposal form closely, and please contact the team should you require clarifications or support with the submission process.
Some experts are invited to participate in our regional workshops. These tend to be experts with broad knowledge about much of the region and many species in that region and help coordinate multiple submissions through their established networks – for example, someone who intensively studies one species in one bay will likely have valuable data to contribute about that species and how it uses that bay, but such an expert is less likely to be invited to participate in person. We also ensure that invitees to our workshops represent all of the countries in the region, and ensure gender and ethnic diversity of attendees. Please note that due to budget constraints and the scale of the project, we cannot accommodate all requests to participate in a workshop. However, all workshops are hybrid and all contributors are welcome to attend and contribute to the discussions online.
Are ISRAs peer-reviewed?
Yes. Candidate ISRAs (cISRAs) proposed at a workshop are reviewed by the Independent Review Panel to assess whether they qualify on the basis of the ISRA Criteria, before becoming ISRAs and being added to the global repository.
What is the role of the Independent Review Panel?
The Independent Review Panel is composed of individuals recognised by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group (SSG) as having relevant expertise. They have an in-depth understanding of species, habitats, and criteria but must not have been involved in the ISRA identification process. Their role is to ensure a rigorous, peer-reviewed process before a proposed candidate ISRA can be finalized and officially designated.
What data are used to identify ISRAs?
ISRAs are identified using the best available scientific data. Sources will generally include observational data (e.g., sightings, fisheries-independent data, fisheries-dependent data including from observers, movement data) whereas the use of non-observational data (e.g., species distribution modelling) for ISRA identification is discouraged. Valid data sources are peer-reviewed publications, grey literature, or local ecological knowledge if judged to be reliable by workshop participants and the Independent Review Panel.
Can ISRAs be identified in Areas Beyond National Jurisdictions (ABNJ)?
Yes, sharks are not confined to human political boundaries and many species are considered oceanic and live or occur in ABNJs. Areas that are considered of importance for the persistence of these sharks can be identified as ISRAs.
How do ISRAs consider climate change?
Climate change is likely to affect the distribution of species therefore affecting the locations of ISRAs. This will be addressed by the periodic revision of ISRAs (every ten years or sooner if deemed necessary).
How can ISRAs be identified in data-poor regions?
In situations where regions are data poor, assembled experts at workshops will need to make difficult decisions on how and where to identify ISRAs. It may be that a data gap analysis reveals the need for specific research that can be stimulated by the expert assessments and recommendations from the workshops.
Will subpopulations be considered in ISRAs?
The ISRA criteria have not been designed to be applied at the subpopulation level because of insufficient species-specific information available for sharks at that level.
What happens when data are unavailable at the species level?
In some cases, species records are commonly ‘lumped’ by genus or family and species-specific data are not available. Where all or most members of a taxonomic unit (e.g., gulper sharks (genus Centrophorus) angel sharks (family Squatinidae), hammerheads (family Sphyrnidae)) are threatened in the area under consideration, ISRA Criteria can be applied to a higher taxonomic level.
Will ISRAs prioritize economically or culturally important species?
No, ISRAs are delineated based on a robust, scientific process that is designed to consider all chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) regardless of public interest or commercial importance.
What happens if an ISRA overlaps with another biogeographical designation (e.g., KBA or EBSA)?
Identification of an ISRA in any region can also overlap with other existing biogeographical conservation approaches (e.g., KBAs or EBSAs) and does not mean that the area identified for sharks will be automatically integrated into these approaches. Instead, the ISRA should remain intact and as a separate measure to further support the identification and conservation of shark and biodiversity at those sites.
Can any entity or person identify an ISRA?
No. However, any entity or person can propose ISRA preliminary Areas of Interest (pAoIs), which can be submitted to the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group for examination during the relevant regional workshop. Candidate ISRAs based on pAoIs can only be identified at regional workshops. Once these candidate areas have also been reviewed by the Independent Review Panel, if approved, they can be considered ISRAs.
If I want an ISRA in my country, how do I proceed, who do I contact?
You can contact the ISRA Team at [email protected]
What are the next upcoming ISRA workshops?
Upcoming ISRA workshops are announced at least four months in advance. All the details can be found here.
Definitions
What are ‘sharks’?
The term ‘shark’ refers to all species of Chondrichthyes comprising of all nine shark orders (Hexanchiformes, Echinorhiniformes, Squaliformes, Pristiophoriformes, Squatiniformes, Heterodontiformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, and Carcharhiniformes), all four ray orders (Rhinopristiformes, Torpediniformes, Rajiformes, and Myliobatiformes) and all chimaeras (Chimaeriformes). New species of sharks are still being described and their taxonomy is continuously being revised. For sharks, the authoritative taxonomic reference is Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp).
What does ‘important’ mean within the context of ISRAs?
The term ‘important’ refers to any ecological property or value of an area, that can affect the wellbeing of sharks – assemblages, aggregations, or individuals – within the ISRA, and is necessary to maintain or improve their conservation status.
What is a threatened shark species?
Shark species listed on the IUCN Red List in the categories of Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable globally (www.iucnredlist.org).
What is a Qualifying Species?
Species that satisfy one or more of the ISRA Criteria.
What is a Supporting Species?
Sharks that have habitat within the ISRA but that do not satisfy one of the ISRA Criteria. This includes species for which there is little ecological data. Those that may have occupied an area historically but no longer occur, or vagrants, should not be listed as ‘Supporting Species’.
What is the difference between a pAoI, AoI and cISRA?
An area nominated as a potential location for an ISRA, is classified as a Preliminary Area of Interest (pAoI). These pAoI’s are then assessed against the ISRA Criteria during the regional expert workshops, and if they have sufficient information to qualify, they are nominated to become a Candidate ISRA (cISRA). The Independent Review Panel will assess any cISRA before it can become an ISRA. Nominated pAoI’s which do not have sufficient information to become a cISRA can become Areas of Interest (AoI) with the potential to be assessed in the future and become a cISRA when more information is available.
How to interprete and use ISRA results
What ISRAs have already been identified, and how can I view them and learn more?
So far, 256 ISRAs have been identified, resulting from our past workshops in the Central and South American Pacific, Mediterranean and Black Seas, Western Indian Ocean regions. You can view all identified ISRAs in our online e-Atlas. You can learn more about each ISRA from the Pacific South and Central American region by viewing our compendium here, and our Mediterranean and Black Seas region compendium here.
We will share information about subsequent regions as it becomes available.
I’m a natural resources manager or other government decision maker. How should I interpret an ISRA?
The Important Shark and Ray Areas team does not directly engage in advocacy for or against specific policies. However, it is our hope that by identifying habitats that are especially important for shark, ray, and chimaeras species, decision makers will consider those habitats for additional legal protection when needed, which can take many forms. In short, the role of the ISRA project is to bring areas delineated based on the best available science to the attention of decision makers, who will ideally consider them for additional conservation or management of some kind. This can, but need not necessarily, take the form of marine protected area designations or fisheries management measures.
I’m an environmentalist. How can I contribute to and/or use ISRAs?
ISRAs represent a summary of the best available scientific data, identifying certain areas of the aquatic environment. as especially important to sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Environmentalists calling for area-based protections to conserve these species can use the areas we identify in their efforts to highlight key areas of the aquatic environment that are critical for biodiversity conservation.
What is an example of an identified ISRA contributing to conservation policy change?
As noted above, the ISRA project is not directly involved in advocacy for or against any particular policy change. However, it is our goal that if we scientifically identify areas important to species of concern, advocates and policymakers can use our results for policy change based on their existing processes and roles. For example, a government authority in the process of selecting new areas for protection could use our results to inform their ongoing selection process.
Indeed, this has already happened- ISRAs identified by our team have been used in discussions on which areas to open to fisheries or to keep closed, they are being used in Marxan planning to designate MPAs, they are being used in proposals for UNESCO World Heritage Site designations, and they are being integrated into Key Biodiversity (KBAs).
