United Arab Emirates

Official name
United Arab Emirates
ISO alpha-2 code
AE
ISO alpha-3 code
ARE
ISO numeric-3 code
784
Continent
Asia

Lepus capensis | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Occurs in coastal flats, gravel plains and sand dunes. Hares make forms at the base of shrubs, sometimes making use of abandoned fox or Uromastyx burrows (Drew 2004). Hare pellets occurred in higher numbers in areas free from domestic grazing than in areas with high grazing pressure or anthropogenic impact (Drew 2000). Hares have home ranges of 11-“30 hectares (0.11-“0.3 km<sup>2</sup>). In summer they are more likely to be found on the fringe of sand dunes where there are shrubs such as Haloxylon salicornicum beneath which they can excavate burrows. In winter they are found most commonly on vegetated plains or flat sandsheets. The movement from dunes in summer to flat areas in winter may be related to mate selection and reproduction (Drew 2004).
Taxon
Taxa
Lepus capensis | Linnaeus, 1758
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
The entire taxonomy of Lepus capensis throughout its range is unclear. Taxonomic review of the species is urgently needed; otherwise, it is possible that some forms may go extinct before they are formally identified. Hoffmann and Smith (2005) restricted L. capensis to the South African distribution, citing no evidence of gene flow between the southern and northern ranges. A list of synonyms is provided based on four geographic locations (South Africa, East Africa, Arabia and Near East, and northwest Africa), which are informal subdivisions of L. capensis sensu lato. The authors suggested that these four groups might represent distinct species. In the Near East and Arabia L. c. arabicus; in South Africa L. c. capensis; L. c. aquilo, L. c. carpi, L. c. granti; East Africa L. c. aegyptius, L. c. hawkeri, L. c. isabellinus, L. c. sinaiticus; and L. c. atlanticus, L. c. schulmbergeri, L. c. whitakeri in northwest Africa (Hoffmann and Smith 2005, Schai-Braun and Hackländer 2018). According to Harrison and Bates (1991) there are eight subspecies in Arabia: L. c. syriacus (Syria, Lebanon, northern Israel); L. c. sinaiticus (southern Israel, Sinai); L. c. connori (east of the Euphrates in Iraq); L. c. arabicus (western Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen); L. c. cheesmani (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, Oman); L. c. omanensis (UAE, Oman); L. c. atallahi (Bahrain, Qatar?); L. c. jefferyi (Masirah Island, Oman). The taxonomic status of L. c. jefferyi needs clarification, as it may represent a good species. Hares present in Qatar also require taxonomic investigation. The taxonomic position of the Sardinian Hare is unresolved. Hoffmann and Smith (2005) include the Sardinian Hare as one of the unassigned synonyms of L. mediterraneus Wagner, 1841 or typicus Hilzheimer, 1906, in L. granatensis. Analysis of the mtCR-1 sequence indicated that Sardinian Hares form a monophyletic clade with North African Hares (Scandura et al. 2007). A genetic and morphometric analysis supports the hypothesis that the Sardinian Hare was introduced from North Africa (Canu et al. 2012). A phylogenetic analysis of mtCR-1 sequences from Tunisian and Egyptian Hares characterized them as monophyletic and separate from L. capensis (Ben Slimen et al. 2006). However, a study of the nuclear gene pool of L. capensis, L. europaeus and the North African Hare indicated that the North African Hare as well as L. europaeus belong to L. capensis (Ben Slimen et al. 2005), supporting Petter's (1959, 1961) hypothesis of the inclusion of L. europaeus in capensis. Ben Slimen et al. (2008a) suggest that in a case such as the genus Lepus, where evolution is ""rapid and to some extent reticulate"", species designation based solely on mtDNA is misleading without examination of the nuclear gene pool. Ben Slimen et al. (2008a) has shown that genetic differentiation between L. capensis and L. europaeus could be attributed to geographic distance rather than divergence. They speculate that gene flow may be occurring in the Near East where distributions meet resulting in the potential for intergraded populations. However, Ben Slimen et al. (2008b) propose that ""a combined phylogenetic, phylogeographic, and population genetic approach, based on various nuclear and mitochondrial markers and including other biological characters, such as phenotypic and morphometric data,"" is needed for conclusive evidence of a single species complex. A recent study looking at a partial transferrin nuclear gene and phylogenetic relationship of hares in Tunisia showed shared ancestral polymorphism between North African and Chinese hares (Awadi et al. 2016). It also concluded that the Tunisian Hare is well differentiated from hares considered belonging to brown hares L. europaeus from central Europe (Awadi et al. 2016). In light of this continuing uncertainty regarding the taxonomic status of the Sardinian and North African Hares, both will remain included in capensis and L. europaeus retains its taxonomic status as a distinct species. Many treatments indicate that the range of L. capensis extends into China, Mongolia and Russia; however, recognition of L. tibetanus and L. tolai as distinct species removes consideration of L. capensis as occurring in this region (Hoffmann and Smith 2005).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Cape or Arabian Hare is widely distributed across the UAE except in the mountains and has been introduced onto some islands such as Al Yasat and Abu al Abyadh (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). Globally, it is distributed across the whole of the Arabian Peninsula, extending through Iran east into India. It also ranges extensively in Africa outside the central rainforest zone (Drew et al. 2008).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Cape or Arabian Hare is widely distributed across the UAE except in the mountains. It is currently assessed as Least Concern because it remains widespread and relatively common inside protected areas, and releases from captive breeding programmes are ongoing. Outside protected areas, habitat loss and degradation due to overgrazing is widespread and continuing so the species could be approaching the thresholds for listing as Near Threatened and regular monitoring is required. No regional adjustment is made to the Least Concern assessment.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The expansion of human settlement into the deserts and the impact of camel grazing on the vegetation have had a significant effect on the hare's habitat in UAE, outside protected areas. Many plains formerly covered by succulent vegetation are now totally barren due to over-grazing and, possibly, over-extraction of groundwater. Moreover, many forestry plantations have large numbers of feral cats and Red Fox Vulpes vulpes which predate hares (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). Releases of individuals imported from southern and Central Asia have been implicated in deaths of native hares due to the introduction of disease (suspected to be rabbit haemorrhagic disease) (Drew 2004). Releases of non-native hares may also pose a risk to the genetic integrity of the indigenous population.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Least Concern which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
Verified entry
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Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Graceful Shark is an inshore species that occurs on continental and insular shelves to a depth of 75 m (Ebert et al. 2013). It attains a maximum size of 243 cm total length (TL) (Jabado et al. 2015). Males mature about 140-177 cm TL and females at 167- 204 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2013, Jabado et al. 2015). Size at birth is probably 50-60 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2013). There are no age data available for this species, so generation length is inferred from the closely related Blacktip Shark (C. limbatus) from Indonesia at 13 years (Smart et al. 2015).
Taxon
Taxa
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides | (Whitley, 1934)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Graceful Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread but patchy in the Indo-West Pacific (Last and Stevens 2009). This species is often confused with the Common Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and possibly the Spinner Shark (C. brevipinna), which causes its distribution to be somewhat uncertain.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
A2cd
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Graceful Shark occurs throughout UAE inshore waters. It is often confused with the Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and possibly the Spinner Shark (C. brevipinna), which introduces uncertainty when interpreting catch data. Little specific data are available for this species in the UAE. It is apparently highly migratory, and has slow life history characteristics including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in in gill net, line and purse seine fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. This species faces intense fishing pressures throughout the Arabian Sea. Based on recorded levels of exploitation and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by at least 30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 39 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Information pertaining to threats specific to the UAE are unavailable. This species is impacted by target (for fins and their valuable meat) and bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Marine habitats in the region have experienced high levels of disturbance and are quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (Sheppard et al. 2010).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Paraechinus hypomelas | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
In southeast Arabia, Brandt's Hedgehog prefers mountainous areas and may be a montane relic species (Harrison and Bates 1991).
Taxon
Taxa
Paraechinus hypomelas | (Brandt, 1836)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Treated by some authors under the genus Hemiechinus.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Restricted to the eastern UAE, this species is most common in rocky areas but avoids the highest elevations. Regularly recorded around Al Ain, where it overlaps with the Desert Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus), and Jebel Hafeet (Abu Dhabi); also recorded from Dhaid (Sharjah), Hatta (Dubai), Wadi Bih (Ra's al-Khaimah), and Dibba on the east coast and the hills west of Khor Fakkan (Fujairah) (Aspinall et al. 2005). The species is widely distributed from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, through southern Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan (Bhattacharyya et al. 2016).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is restricted to the eastern UAE, but is listed as Least Concern because the species is common in the mountains, no major threats have been reported, and there is no indication of a decline. There is no need for a regional adjustment of the category.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
No major threats are known at present. In the longer term, falling water tables in mountain wadis due to over-abstraction and a drier climate may result in a deterioration in habitat quality.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Least Concern which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
Verified entry
Off

Paraechinus aethiopicus | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Recorded in gardens, cultivation, oases, vegetated wadis, plains and deserts (Aspinall et al. 2005). Nocturnal and becomes less active during the hottest summer months.
Taxon
Taxa
Paraechinus aethiopicus | (Ehrenberg, 1832)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This is the most widespread species of hedgehog in the UAE, occurring in a wide range of habitats except mobile dunes. It has been introduced to several islands in Abu Dhabi (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). The species occurs in most of the Arabian Peninsula and is also widely distributed in North and Northeast Africa from Morocco and Mauritania to Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as the Middle East (Hutterer 2016).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This is a widespread and common species in the UAE and, although declining in some areas due to loss of habitat, it is still common, hence listed as Least Concern. There is no need for a regional adjustment of the category.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species may be impacted by the loss of habitat through urban development, though residential development including gardens may increase available habitat. It is frequently seen as a road casualty.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Whilst Hornby (1996) assessed the species as Near Threatened, we consider it likely that the appropriate category would have been Least Concern in 1996.
Verified entry
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Urogymnus asperrimus | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The occurrence of this species appears to be patchy with localized hotspots (Chin 2014). Juveniles appear to be site-attached, and highly resident to small areas of shallow coastal mud and mangrove habitats (Cerutti-Pereyra et al. 2014). It has been recorded from coral reefs, sandy reef lagoons, beaches, mud flats and mangroves, at depths of ~1 m to at least 30 m (O'Shea 2013, Cerutti-Pereyra et al. 2014, Chin 2014).The Porcupine Ray reaches a maximum size of at least 115 cm disc width (DW) with females mature by ~100 cm DW and males at ~90 cm DW (Last and Stevens 2009). Little else is known of the biology of this species. Attempts to collect size-at-age data from vertebral counts have proved difficult due to the fragile nature of vertebra (O'Shea 2013). Using data from the Brown Stingray (Dasyatis lata), a related species from the Pacific as a proxy, generation length for the Porcupine Ray is inferred to be 21.5 years (Dale and Holland 2012).
Taxon
Taxa
Urogymnus asperrimus | (Bloch & Schneider,1801)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Formerly, U. asperrimus was the only species within Urogymmus. Last et al. (2016) added five more species to the genus.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Porcupine Whipray occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
A2cd
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Porcupine Ray occurs throughout UAE inshore waters, but is rarely observed. It is highly susceptible to a variety of fishing methods, and its life history characteristics cause it to be particularly susceptible to population decline in areas where fishing pressure is high. Significant declines of rays have been documented in parts of the Arabian Sea region (e.g., India), and the loss of coastal habitats across the region is also a concern. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, and it is not known how individuals occupying the UAE are connected with the broader population of the Arabian Seas region, there is no information available to suggest that its population status differs in the UAE as compared to other parts of its range in the region. Given the threats faced by this species in other parts of the Arabian Seas region, and ongoing threats from discarding and habitat loss in the UAE, it is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Seas are representative of the status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by at least 30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 64 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Information pertaining to threats specific to the UAE are unavailable. This species is impacted by bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Its small litter size and schooling behaviour in inshore areas causes it to be susceptible to rapid population declines when experiencing intense fishing activity. Marine habitats in the Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance and quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010). Corals in the UAE and Arabian Gulf have severely declined due to the increasing frequency of mass bleaching events caused by rising water temperatures, which is a consequence of climate change, as well as pervasive coastal development (Riegl et al. 2018, Burt et al. 2019).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Rhynchobatus djiddensis | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Whitespotted Wedgefish inhabits coastal and continental shelf waters to depths of 70 m, but typically occurs in depths shallower than 35 m. It attains a maximum size of about 310 cm total length (TL), although it is typically smaller at around 175 cm TL, with males mature at about 150 cm TL (Last et al. 2016). Size at birth is about 60 cm TL. Maximum age for Rhynchobatus spp. in Australia is 5 years (males) and 12 years (females), but these data were not from the largest individuals (White et al. 2014) and are not reliable for the estimation of generation length. This is therefore estimated from the maximum age (19 years) and age at maturity (7 years) taken from the growth curve provided by White et al. (2014) for the Giant Guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus), which gives an estimated generation length of 13 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Rhynchobatus djiddensis | (Forsskål, 1775)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Rhynchobatus djiddensis is part of the Indo-West Pacific Rhynchobatus djiddensis species-complex. The name R. djiddensis has previously been used widely, leading to poorly-defined taxonomy and distributions for members of the complex (in particular, R. australiae, R. djiddensis, and R. laevis). Further investigation into the taxonomy of 'whitespotted wedgefish' is required, and additional species are likely to be described in the future.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Whitespotted Wedgefish occurs throughout UAE waters (Hellyer and Aspinal 2005, Jabado et al. 2015). Globally, it is widespread in the Western Indian Ocean, but may not be present in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives (Last et al. 2016). It is apparently confirmed from the Red Sea, but with some uncertainty surrounding nomenclature (Giles et al. 2016). However, the difficulties in distinguishing between species of Rhynchobatus causes some of its distribution to be uncertain (Henderson et al. 2016).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
A2bcd
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Whitespotted Wedgefish occurs throughout UAE coastal waters. There has been a total ban on fishing for this species in UAE waters since 2019. Confusion amongst the species of Rhynchobatus that occur in the Arabian Sea causes a high level of uncertainty when interpreting catch data as well as an understanding of the extent of this species' range. It is taken as bycatch in gill net, longline and trawl fisheries and its fins are highly valued in international trade. Coastal development is causing habitat degradation, which may also be impacting this species. Significant declines in wedgefish populations are known in India, southern Oman, Pakistan and Iran. It exhibits slow life history characteristics including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation, landings data and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 50-80% over the past three generation lengths, or about 39 years. It is listed as Endangered A2bcd.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
This species is impacted by target and bycatch fisheries in the UAE. It may also being impacted by habitat degradation due to coastal development, especially nursery grounds. Marine habitats in the Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance and quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al.<em style=""font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia;""> 2010).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Pristis zijsron | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Green Sawfish are most common in shallow water coastal and estuarine areas, but occur to depths to over 70 m (Stevens et al. 2005). In the UAE, specimens of up to 600 cm TL were reported from shallow sandy areas with seagrass or further offshore by fishers (Jabado et al. 2017). A 350 cm total length (TL) female and a 250 cm TL male tracked in Australia remained in shallow water (mean depth &lt;1.5 m) and within 200 m of a mangrove shoreline (Peverell and Pillans 2004, Stevens et al. 2008). The young are known to use nearshore and estuarine areas as nurseries, and adults occur more broadly and into deeper areas (Stephenson and Chidlow 2003).Green Sawfish may be the largest of the sawfishes, with reports of individuals up to 730 cm TL (Weigmann 2016). Mean size at birth in the Gulf of Carpentaria is 76 cm TL, and size at maturity at 340 to 380 cm TL (Peverell 2008, Last and Stevens 2009). Age and growth based on specimens from the Gulf of Carpentaria indicate that maturity is reached at about nine years, and maximum age may be &gt;50 years (Peverell 2008). Little is known of its reproductive biology. Reproduction is aplacental viviparous and litter size is about 12. Demographic models based on life history data from the Gulf of Carpentaria indicate that the generation time is 14.6 years, the intrinsic rate of population increase is very low (0.02 yr<sup>-1</sup>), and population doubling time is ~28 years (Moreno Iturria 2012).
Taxon
Taxa
Pristis zijsron | Bleeker, 1851
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Recent taxonomic work has confirmed that the Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron) is a valid species with an Indo-West Pacific distribution (Faria et al. 2013).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Green Sawfish occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it was historically widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, including throughout the Arabian Sea region from the Red Sea to India (Harrison and Dulvy 2014, Dulvy et al. 2016). Its current occurrence in much of this region is uncertain due to a lack of reliable data, but it is presumed to have been extirpated from much of its range due to severe impacts from intensive inshore gill net and trawl fisheries. It is currently known to be extant in Sudan, Eritrea and the UAE (Dulvy et al. 2016, Jabado et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
A2bcd
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Green Sawfish occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters, and was historically relatively abundant there. Capture of this species has been banned in the UAE since 2008, but accidental captures, especially in gill net fisheries, still occur. According to fisher interviews conducted in the UAE, sightings of this species declined by 72% over at least the past 17 years and that it was historically more abundant around 20 years ago. The species is now very rarely sighted, with the last sighting occurring in Abu Dhabi in 2016. It exhibits slow life history characteristics, including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net and demersal trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on fisher interviews, recorded levels of exploitation and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by at least 80% over the past three generation lengths, or about 45 years. It is listed as Critically Endangered A2bcd. Based on the continuation of gill net fisheries and nearshore habitat degradation, the species remains under threat, though the ban of its capture in the UAE may have mitigated threats to some degree. Further research is needed on population trends and life history.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
In the UAE, this species has been impacted by high levels of largely unmanaged and unreported mortality in target and bycatch fisheries. Fishers reported overfishing as the major cause for the observed decline in this species (Jabado et al. 2017). Though fishing for this species in the UAE has been banned since 2008, the species remains greatly threatened by accidental capture. Other threats include habitat loss (particularly loss of mangrove forest, intertidal areas, and coastal development), pollution, and climate change. Marine habitats in the Gulf, including the UAE, are experiencing high levels of disturbance due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010). Suspected historical nurseries sites used by this species have been lost to coastal development (Al Hameli pers. comm. 2019). Across its range, continuing threats from mostly unregulated and unmanaged fisheries as well as habitat loss and degradation are resulting in the continual declines of remnant populations (Dulvy et al. 2016).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Sphyrna zygaena | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Smooth Hammerhead is a coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic species that occurs on the continental shelf, to at least 200 m depth, with large individuals often found over deep reefs on the edge of the shelf (Smale 1991, Ebert et al. 2013). Despite its widespread occurrence, there are only limited published biological data on this species. It attains a maximum size of 370-400 cm total length (TL) (Ebert et al. 2013, Weigmann 2016). Stevens (1984) reported that off the east coast of Australia males mature at about 250-260 cm TL and females at about 265 cm TL with parturition and ovulation occurring between January and March. The gestation period off eastern Australia would appear to be 10-11 months. Castro and Mejuto (1995) reported 21 gravid females with a mean litter size of 33.5 from the waters of western Africa. Off eastern Australia, Stevens (1975) reported litter sizes between 20-49 (mean 32). The sex ratio of embryos is 1:1 (Stevens 1984, Castro and Mejuto 1995). Compagno (1984) and Compagno et al. (2005) gave the size at birth as 50-61 cm. Smale (1991) and Doño (2008) reported juveniles with open umbilical scars from South Africa at sizes between 59 and 63 cm, and from Uruguay between 49 and 55 cm TL, respectively. Although maximum age has yet to be determined for this species, it is thought that the lifespan of the Smooth Hammerhead may be 20 years or longer (FLMNH 2008). Generation length is estimated at 24 years based on that for the Scalloped Hammerhead (S. lewini), which reaches a similar size (Drew et al. 2015).
Taxon
Taxa
Sphyrna zygaena | (Linnaeus, 1758)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Smooth Hammerhead occurs in UAE waters on the Sea of Oman coast. It is apparently excluded from the Arabian Gulf (Last and Stevens 1994). Records from the Gulf may be misidentifications of Sphyrna mokarran (Ali et al. 2018). Globally, it occurs in all coastal and open ocean temperate and tropical waters (Ebert et al. 2013). The full extent of this species' range in tropical waters may be incompletely known at present due to confusion with the more abundant Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
A2d
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
In UAE waters, the Smooth Hammerhead occurs only in the Sea of Oman. Capture of this species is totally banned in the UAE. It is sometimes confused with the more abundant Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). This species is caught in both coastal and oceanic fisheries, and its low productivity causes it to be susceptible to rapid population declines from exploitation. Its fins are highly valued, and this is driving increased targeted fishing in some areas. Despite the lack of data, the similar ecology, low productivity, and presence of intensive fisheries, mean that this species, like other large sharks in the Arabian Sea region, has likely undergone significant declines. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation, it is suspected to have declined by at least 50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 72 years. It is listed as Endangered A2d.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
This species is impacted by target and bycatch fisheries across its range. Finning and discarding of carcasses has also been reported, especially in offshore and high seas fisheries (Anderson and Simpfendorfer 2005). This species is being increasingly targeted in some areas in response to increasing demand for the fins (Jabado et al. 2015).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Sphyrna mokarran | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Great Hammerhead is a coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic tropical hammerhead shark occurring close inshore and well offshore, over continental shelves, island terraces, and in passes and lagoons of coral atolls, as well as over deep water near land, at depths ranging from near-surface to over 80 m (Compagno et al. 2005). The maximum total size is 550-610 cm total length (TL) (Weigmann 2016), though 400 cm TL is more common for a mature adult (Compagno et al. 2005, Last and Stevens 1994). Males mature at about 225 to 269 cm TL, and reach at least 341 cm TL, and females mature at about 225 to 300 cm TL and reach 482 to 549 cm TL (Compagno et al. 2005) In the UAE the largest recorded specimen was 3.82 m (Jabado et al. 2016 biological data sharks uae paper). The Great Hammerhead is viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta. Litter size ranges from 6 to 42 pups after 11 months' gestation (Ebert et al. 2013). Size at birth is 50 to 70 cm TL with females breeding once every two years (Stevens and Lyle 1989). Generation length is estimated at 24-25 years based on Piercy et al. (2010) and Harry et al. (2011).
Taxon
Taxa
Sphyrna mokarran | (Rüppell, 1837)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Great Hammerhead occurs throughout UAE waters (Tourenq et al. 2008). Globally, it ranges widely throughout the tropical waters of the world from latitudes 40'°N to 35'°S (Last and Stevens 2009).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
A2d
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Great Hammerhead occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters, and is unlikely to be abundant wherever it occurs. Capture of this species is totally banned in the UAE. It is particularly susceptible to capture in gill net and longline fisheries and is highly valued for its fins. It suffers very high bycatch mortality, which causes it to be susceptible to population decline. While there is limited information available on this species in the region, its large size, valuable fins, and intensive fisheries mean that, like many other large sharks, it has undergone significant declines. It is apparently highly migratory, and has slow life history characteristics including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation, it is suspected to have declined by at least 50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 75 years. It is listed as Endangered A2d.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Information pertaining to threats specific to the UAE are unavailable. This species is impacted by bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Marine habitats in the Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance and quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010). Low survival at capture makes this species very vulnerable to fishing pressure, whether directed or incidental. Finning and discarding of carcasses has also been reported, especially in offshore and high seas fisheries (Anderson and Simpfendorfer 2005). This species is being increasingly targeted in some areas in response to increasing demand for the fins (Jabado et al. 2015). Corals in the UAE and Arabian Gulf have severely declined due to the increasing frequency of mass bleaching events caused by rising water temperatures, which is a consequence of climate change, as well as pervasive coastal development (Riegl et al. 2018, Burt et al. 2019).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Sphyrna lewini | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Scalloped Hammerhead is a coastal and semi-oceanic pelagic shark, found over continental and insular shelves and in deep water ranging from intertidal areas and the surface to at least 1,000 m depth (Compagno et al. 2005). Horizontal migration is observed from inshore bays to a pelagic habitat as this species grows. It has been observed to be highly faithful to particular diurnal core areas (Holland et al. 1993) and sometimes form large schools which migrate to higher latitudes in summer (Stevens and Lyle 1989). This species segregates by sex, with females migrating offshore earlier and at smaller sizes than males. Adults spend most of the time offshore in midwater and females migrate to the coastal areas to have their pups (Bass et al. 1975, Klimley and Nelson 1984, Branstetter 1987, Klimley 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989). Nursery areas are found in shallow inshore waters, while the adults are found offshore (Compagno 1984, Holland et al. 1993, Kotas et al. 1995, Lessa et al. 1998). Neonates and juveniles are known to shoal in confined coastal pupping areas for up to two years before moving out to adult habitat (Holland et al. 1993). The species is viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta. Only the right ovary is functional. In Taiwanese (POC) waters, ovum development takes approximately 10 months and ova reach a maximum diameter of 40-45 mm. The number of oocytes in the ovarium can be as many as 40-50 per female (Chen et al. 1988). The gestation period is around 9-12 months, with birth in spring and summer. The average number of embryos in the uterus ranges from 12-41 and females pup every year. Newborn size ranges from 31-57 cm (Castro 1983, Compagno 1984, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989, Chen et al. 1990, Oliveira et al. 1991, 1997, Amorim et al. 1994, White et al. 2008). Maximum size is reported by several studies, 370-420 cm total length (TL) (Ebert et al. 2013) and ranged from 219-340 cm TL for males and 296-346 cm TL for females (Bass et al. 1975b, Schwartz 1983, Klimley and Nelson 1984, Stevens 1984, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989, Chen et al. 1990). Males mature between 140-198 cm TL and females at around 200-250 cm TL (Compagno 1984b, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1990, Carrera and Martinez 2007, White et al. 2008). Branstetter's (1987) growth study in the Gulf of Mexico found asymptotic length for both sexes of 329 cm TL and 253 cm fork length (FL), with an index of growth rate of k = 0.073 y<sup>-1</sup>. Piercy et al.'s (2007) more recent study used FL rather than TL and suggested faster growth, with asymptotic length of 214.8 cm FL for males and 233.1 cm FL for females, with an index growth rate of k=0.13 year<sup>-1</sup> for males and k=0.09 year<sup>-1</sup> for females. It is unclear whether these differences are related to sample size, methodology or changes resulting from a density-dependent compensatory response to population depletion. The nearest studies on life history traits of this species have been undertaken in the Eastern Indian Ocean. White et al. (2008) estimated females and males to mature at 228.5 cm TL and 175.6 cm TL, respectively. Age at maturity was estimated at 13.2 for females and 8.9 years for males (Drew et al. 2015). Based on these data, generation length was estimated at 24 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Sphyrna lewini | (Griffith & Smith, 1834)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Scalloped Hammerhead occurs throughout UAE waters. Elsewhere, it is circumglobally distributed in coastal warm temperate and tropical seas (Last and Stevens 2009).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
A2d
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The Scalloped Hammerhead occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters, and is apparently infrequently captured there. Capture of this species is totally banned in the UAE. All life-stages of this species are vulnerable to capture in both targeted and incidental fisheries that occur in both coastal areas as well as oceanic. Although there are limited data on its status, other shark species in the Arabian Gulf have undergone significant declines due to exploitation. It is apparently highly migratory, and has slow life history characteristics including low fecundity and a low annual rate of population increase. Considering this, the species has a low capacity to recover from even moderate levels of exploitation. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. There is evidence that a distinct subpopulation of this species occurs in the Arabian Sea region. Based on recorded levels of exploitation, it is suspected to have declined by at least 50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 72 years. It is listed as Endangered A2d.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Information pertaining to threats specific to the UAE are unavailable. This species is impacted by target (for fins and their valuable meat) and bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Finning and discarding of carcasses has also been reported, especially in offshore and high seas fisheries (Anderson and Simpfendorfer 2005). This species is being increasingly targeted in some areas in response to increasing demand for the fins (Jabado et al. 2015). Furthermore, aggregating behaviour and low survival at capture causes this species to be very susceptible to fishing pressure, and the recolonisation of depleted areas is expected to be a slow and complex process (Maguire et al. 2006, Drew et al. 2015).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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