The role of 30x30 MPAs in protecting endangered sharks in the Northwestern Atlantic and their associated habitats
(2024) BION03 20232Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Sharks are an ecologically important group of fishes important to maintaining ecosystem structure and function, yet the additive effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities threaten their survival. Northwestern Atlantic populations of shortfin mako sharks and white sharks are considered threatened species, with populations in decline since the 1950s. Previous conservation efforts have attempted to protect these species using static marine protected areas (MPAs) and fisheries regulations. In an effort to preserve global diversity, the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified a new framework (30x30) that aims to protect 30% of Earth’s lands and oceans by 2030. Many countries, including Canada and the USA, have committed to... (More)
- Sharks are an ecologically important group of fishes important to maintaining ecosystem structure and function, yet the additive effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities threaten their survival. Northwestern Atlantic populations of shortfin mako sharks and white sharks are considered threatened species, with populations in decline since the 1950s. Previous conservation efforts have attempted to protect these species using static marine protected areas (MPAs) and fisheries regulations. In an effort to preserve global diversity, the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified a new framework (30x30) that aims to protect 30% of Earth’s lands and oceans by 2030. Many countries, including Canada and the USA, have committed to increasing protected areas within their jurisdictions to achieve this goal. The present study was designed to provide policy makers with specific recommendations regarding where and when MPAs implemented to meet 30x30 targets may be most effective in protecting shortfin makos and white sharks in the Northwestern Atlantic based on projected habitat suitability in 2030.
Present-day and recent biotelemetry species distribution data for 26 shortfin makos, 10 mature male white sharks, 10 mature female white sharks, 10 subadult white sharks, and 10 young-of-year (YOY) white sharks were used in combination with remotely sensed bathymetry, salinity, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration data to predict suitable habitat in 2030. Projections were conducted for each season under two potential socio-economic climate pathways (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) to determine how time of year and degree of future radiative warming will alter animal distributions. Under both SSP scenarios, all species and subgroupings are expected to make use of habitats different than those frequented under present-day and recent past conditions. Additionally, while all species and life stages assessed demonstrated intra-seasonal variation in future distributions, distribution of some subgroups are expected to overlap in the future . Based on my results, implementation of dynamic time-area closures within Canada and USA jurisdictions in seasons when shark presence is highest would likely benefit conservation of these species. My study also demonstrates the need to integrate both species- and life-stage specific knowledge and adaptive management principles into MPA design for conservation efforts to be successful under likely future climate scenarios. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Using MPAs to Protect Endangered Sharks
Climate change and human-related activities (i.e. fishing) are having direct impacts on the abundance and distribution of shark populations worldwide. Marine protected areas (MPAs) can serve as effective conservation tools for the protection of sharks if knowledge of a species behaviour and movement are incorporated within their design. My study used species-specific knowledge to estimate where future MPAs should be implemented in order to protect shortfin mako sharks and white sharks found in the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
After failing to meet 2020 biodiversity targets, the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified a new framework in December 2022 to minimize the amount of biodiversity... (More) - Using MPAs to Protect Endangered Sharks
Climate change and human-related activities (i.e. fishing) are having direct impacts on the abundance and distribution of shark populations worldwide. Marine protected areas (MPAs) can serve as effective conservation tools for the protection of sharks if knowledge of a species behaviour and movement are incorporated within their design. My study used species-specific knowledge to estimate where future MPAs should be implemented in order to protect shortfin mako sharks and white sharks found in the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
After failing to meet 2020 biodiversity targets, the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified a new framework in December 2022 to minimize the amount of biodiversity lost in the coming decade. The framework, titled 30x30, aims to protect 30% of Earth’s oceans and lands by 2030. Many countries, such as Canada and the US, have already established plans to meet this goal, and aim to achieve this conservation objective by increasing the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) within their jurisdictions.
Currently, around 37% of global shark species, including shortfin mako sharks and white sharks, are threatened with extinction. Overfishing and bycatch, which is the process through which one species is accidentally caught while fishing for another, are responsible for the decline of many populations. Climate change, pollution, and habitat loss pose additional threats to many sharks. Previously, policymakers aimed to protect sharks using static MPAs. Yet, since sharks are mobile species that make use of different habitats at different times, dynamic MPAs that move in space and time, are required for their conservation. However, for these dynamic MPAs to be useful, we need to know where the sharks will be and when.
In my study, I used species distribution data as well as salinity, sea surface temperature (SST), bathymetry, and chlorophyll-a data to construct a species distribution model. The model predicted the location of shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) and white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the Northwestern Atlantic (NWA) in 2030 for all four seasons. I found that, in 2030, shortfin makos and white sharks (of various age groups) will make use of habitats different than those that they are utilizing today, thus demonstrating the strong impact climate change is playing in the distribution of shark species. Additionally, I found that the distribution of mako and white sharks will overlap in some areas. Firstly, female white sharks and shortfin mako sharks will both be found around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge area in spring and autumn. Secondly, juvenile and male white sharks will be found in shallow waters around New England in autumn, and female and male white sharks will be found in these same waters in spring. Therefore, I was able to provide the following recommendations to policymakers:
MPAs implemented to meet 30x30 targets should be dynamic in design and implemented around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in spring and autumn, as well as around the continental waters of New England in the spring and autumn, to protect endangered shortfin mako sharks and white sharks.
Master’s Degree Project in Biology, specialization in Conservation Biology/60 credits, 2024, Department of Biology, Lund University
Supervisors: Dr. Charles Bangley, Dr. Catherine Macdonald, Dr. Ola Olsson
Dalhousie University, University of Miami, Lund University. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175590
- author
- Bradshaw, Emma
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BION03 20232
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9175590
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-27 14:13:05
- date last changed
- 2024-09-27 14:13:05
@misc{9175590,
abstract = {{Sharks are an ecologically important group of fishes important to maintaining ecosystem structure and function, yet the additive effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities threaten their survival. Northwestern Atlantic populations of shortfin mako sharks and white sharks are considered threatened species, with populations in decline since the 1950s. Previous conservation efforts have attempted to protect these species using static marine protected areas (MPAs) and fisheries regulations. In an effort to preserve global diversity, the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified a new framework (30x30) that aims to protect 30% of Earth’s lands and oceans by 2030. Many countries, including Canada and the USA, have committed to increasing protected areas within their jurisdictions to achieve this goal. The present study was designed to provide policy makers with specific recommendations regarding where and when MPAs implemented to meet 30x30 targets may be most effective in protecting shortfin makos and white sharks in the Northwestern Atlantic based on projected habitat suitability in 2030.
Present-day and recent biotelemetry species distribution data for 26 shortfin makos, 10 mature male white sharks, 10 mature female white sharks, 10 subadult white sharks, and 10 young-of-year (YOY) white sharks were used in combination with remotely sensed bathymetry, salinity, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration data to predict suitable habitat in 2030. Projections were conducted for each season under two potential socio-economic climate pathways (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) to determine how time of year and degree of future radiative warming will alter animal distributions. Under both SSP scenarios, all species and subgroupings are expected to make use of habitats different than those frequented under present-day and recent past conditions. Additionally, while all species and life stages assessed demonstrated intra-seasonal variation in future distributions, distribution of some subgroups are expected to overlap in the future . Based on my results, implementation of dynamic time-area closures within Canada and USA jurisdictions in seasons when shark presence is highest would likely benefit conservation of these species. My study also demonstrates the need to integrate both species- and life-stage specific knowledge and adaptive management principles into MPA design for conservation efforts to be successful under likely future climate scenarios.}},
author = {{Bradshaw, Emma}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The role of 30x30 MPAs in protecting endangered sharks in the Northwestern Atlantic and their associated habitats}},
year = {{2024}},
}