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

Paragaleus randalli | 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 Slender Weasel Shark is found inshore in shallow waters of the continental shelf to depths of 18 m (Compagno et al. 1996, Weigmann 2016). It reaches a maximum size of at least 85 cm with males reaching maturity at around 65 cm TL (Moore et al. 2012, Moore and Pierce 2013, Jabado et al. 2016). It is a viviparous species, giving birth to two pups per litter which are born at 35-40 cm TL. No age and growth data are available and generation length is estimated as 8 years based on data for the Hooktooth Shark (Chaenogaleus macrostoma) (Henderson et al. 2004).
Taxon
Taxa
Paragaleus randalli | Compagno, Krupp & Carpenter, 1996
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Slender Weasel Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it has a patchy distribution in the northern Indian Ocean from the Arabian Gulf, inner Sea of Oman, India and Sri Lanka.
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 Slender Weasel Shark occurs throughout UAE inshore waters and may be uncommon there. It is poorly known in general, in part due to confusion with other species. It is caught in inshore gill net, trawl and line fisheries in the Arabian Sea region where inshore fishing pressure is intense and increasing. There is also an ongoing decline in habitat quality due to coastal development, particularly in the Gulf. 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 and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 30-50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 24 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
In the UAE, sharks have been impacted by targeted commercial fisheries until 2014 when a ban on export of sharks was imposed (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). Sharks continue to be impacted by artisanal and bycatch fisheries (Annual Fisheries Statistical Report for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2001-2018), though catch data are not species-specific. This species is impacted by 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 <em style=""font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2; text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"">et al. 2010).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Iago omanensis | 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 Bigeye Houndshark is most commonly found on continental shelves and slopes at depths from 110-1,000 m and possibly as deep as 2,195 m in the Red Sea. In the Gulf of Aqaba, males apparently inhabit deeper waters, whereas females prefer shallower waters (300 m) (Baranes 2005). The species attains a maximum size of 84 cm total length (TL) (Henderson and Reeve 2014) with females reaching maturity at ~40 cm TL and males at 31-32 cm TL. Reproduction is viviparous with yolk-sac placenta and gestation lasts for 10-12 months with two to six pups are produced per litter (Baranes 2007). Size at birth is at ~14 cm TL (Baranes 2007, Henderson and Reeve 2014). Preliminary ageing data indicates males live to 7 years and females to 9 years (Henderson et al. 2004) suggesting a generation length of 5.5 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Iago omanensis | (Norman, 1939)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
The Bay of Bengal population may represent a separate dwarf Iago omanensis-like species (Fernando et al. 2019, Psomadakis et al. 2019).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Bigeye Houndshark occurs in UAE waters on the Sea of Oman coast. It is excluded from the Arabian Gulf. Its global range is poorly-defined due to taxonomic issues, but as presently known, it occurs throughout the Arabian Sea region with the exception of the Gulf, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. There may be several species in India that remain to be described (K.K. Bineesh pers. comm. 07/02/2017). Further research is required, but the Bigeye Houndshark may be restricted to the western parts of the Arabian Sea region.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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 Bigeye Houndshark occurs only in deeper waters of the Sea of Oman. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE and trawling has been banned there since 1980. It is taken by gill net or trawl fisheries in Oman, Pakistan and India and utilized fresh for human consumption. It appears to be quite common in some areas of its range, such as Oman and northwestern India, but data specific to its status in the UAE are not available at this time. There is some evidence for declines in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) and India, especially where deep sea trawl fisheries have been recently expanding. There are no data to suggest that the part of the population that occupies the UAE is under any greater threat than in any other part of its range and that its status in the Arabian Seas region should be representative of its status in the UAE. Given its probable extensive refuge in deep waters, it is listed as Least Concern.
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
Threat information specific to this species in the UAE is unavailable. In the UAE, sharks have been impacted by targeted commercial fisheries until 2014 when a ban on export of sharks was imposed (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). Sharks continue to be impacted by artisanal and bycatch fisheries (Annual Fisheries Statistical Report for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2001-2018), though catch data are not species-specific.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Mustelus mosis | 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
This is a bottom dwelling shark found inshore and offshore at depths of 0-250 m, sometimes in association with coral reefs (Compagno 1984). The species is reported to reach a maximum size of 150 cm total length (TL) but is rarely seen above 100 cm TL (Jabado et al. 2016, Moore et al. 2016). Males mature at 65-78 cm TL and females mature from about 73 cm TL. Reproduction is viviparous, and the species gives birth to 2-16 pups per litter (Moore et al. 2016). Size at birth is reported as 26-28 cm TL (Bass 1986). No ageing data is available. Generation length is estimated as 10 years based on the Narrownose Smoothhound (Mustelus schmitti) from Brazil which has a similar distribution and maximum size.
Taxon
Taxa
Mustelus mosis | Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1899
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Arabian Smoothhound occurs throughout UAE waters (Randall 1995, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi unpublished data). Globally, it is moderately widespread in the Northern Indian Ocean from the Red Sea to India and Sri Lanka. Taxonomic issues have confused the distribution of this species in eastern India and Sri Lanka, and the full distribution of the species remains to be resolved.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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 Arabian Smoothhound occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters, and may be relatively common there. It is taken as bycatch in some parts of its range, but remains common in landings. This species is not targeted in the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and it apparently remains common. Based on the lack of evidence for declines, continued importance in fisheries landings and relatively high biological productivity, this species is listed as Least Concern.
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, sharks have been impacted by targeted commercial fisheries until 2014 when a ban on export of sharks was imposed (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). Sharks continue to be impacted by artisanal and bycatch fisheries (Annual Fisheries Statistical Report for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2001-2018), though catch data are not species-specific. Marine habitats in the region have experienced high levels of disturbance and are quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (Sheppard <em style=""font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2; text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"">et al. 2010).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Rhinobatos annandalei | 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
Very little information is currently available on the habitat or biology of this guitarfish. It occurs from close inshore out to about 90 m deep and presumably occurs over soft substrates. Maximum total length is reported at approximately 87 cm (R.W. Jabado pers. obs.). Maturity for males is about 50-68 cm TL and for females it is around 60 cm TL (Raje 2006, Henderson et al. 2004, Last et al. 2016). Size at birth is about 19-20 cm TL. Fecundity is up to 3-20 pups (M. Khan pers. comm. 08/02/2016, Raje 2006) although females dissected from landings in Oman had between 3-5 pups (Henderson et al. 2004). Most pregnant and post-partum females in Indian and Pakistan waters occur in September and October (M. Khan pers. comm. 08/02/2016, Raje 2006) and in the summer and winter in Oman (Henderson et al. 2004). Generation length is inferred to be 5 years from the Lesser Guitarfish (Acroteriobatus annulatus) from southern Africa (Compagno et al. 1989).
Taxon
Taxa
Rhinobatos annandalei | Norman, 1926
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Bengal Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it has a poorly defined distribution in the Northern Indian Ocean from the Arabian Gulf (Iran, UAE) to India and possibly Sri Lanka (Bianchi 1985, Talwar and Jhingran 1991, Assadi and Dehghani 1997, Vossoughi and Vosoughi 1999). There has been some confusion as to the identification of this species, making its exact distribution difficult to define, with some previous studies have referred to it as the Spotted Guitarfish.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
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 Bengal Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE coastal waters. Due to confusion with the Spotted Guitarfish (Rhinobatos punctifer), population data can be uncertain. There has been a total ban on fishing for this species in UAE waters since 2019, but is still taken as bycatch in coastal net fisheries. Declines of several species of inshore guitarfish have been documented (e.g., India). Habitat degradation from coastal development is a concern for this species as well. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net 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 and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 15 years. It is listed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting the thresholds for 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
This species has been impacted by target and bycatch fisheries. 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:

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Rhinobatos punctifer | 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
This species inhabits the inshore continental shelf to depths of 70 m on soft substrates (Weigmann 2016). Reproduction is viviparous and the species reaches at least 90 cm total length (TL) (Weigmann 2016). Maximum litter size is up to at least seven and size at birth is ~25 cm TL (A.C. Henderson unpubl. data). Data from Oman indicates that females taken during autumn off Muscat were all mature at less than 77 cm TL while males matured at less than 71 cm TL (Henderson et al. 2004). Generation length is inferred to be 5 years from the Lesser Guitarfish (Acroteriobatus annulatus) from southern Africa (Compagno et al. 1989).
Taxon
Taxa
Rhinobatos punctifer | Compagno & Randall, 1987
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Spotted Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is restricted to the Arabian Sea region from the northern Red Sea to the Sea of Oman and Arabian Gulf (Bonfil and Abdallah 2004, Last et al. 2016). The species has been frequently misidentified in the literature, and sometimes confused with the Bengal Guitarfish (Rhinobatos annandalei).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
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 Spotted Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE coastal waters. Due to confusion with the Bengal Guitarfish (Rhinobatos annandalei), population data can be uncertain. There has been a total ban on fishing for this species in UAE waters since 2019, but is still taken as bycatch in coastal net fisheries. Declines of several species of inshore guitarfish have been documented elsewhere. Habitat degradation from coastal development is a concern for this species as well. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net 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 and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 15 years. It is listed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting the thresholds for 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
This species has been impacted by target and bycatch fisheries. 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:

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Mobula kuhlii | 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 Shortfin Devil Ray is an uncommon inshore, primarily shelf pelagic species found in continental coastal areas but not extending into the epipelagic zone (Compagno and Last 1999). This species reaches a maximum size of about 119 cm disc width (DW) (White et al. 2006b). Males mature at 103-“119 cm (DW) (White et al. 2006b, Notarbartolo di Sciara et al. 2017) and size at birth is around 31 cm DW (Compagno and Last 1999). As with all Myliobatiformes, the reproductive mode of M. kuhlii is livebearing and histotrophic, with embryonic nutrition supplied from a protein- and lipid-rich histotroph from highly developed trophonemata. A single, relatively large pup is produced per litter (Compagno and Last 1999, White et al. 2006b). Intrinsically, Manta and Mobula rays have among the lowest productivity of any chondrichthyan (Pardo et al. 2016). Long resting periods may account for extended reproductive cycles in mobulid species. As there are not enough data to estimate an exact generation length for this species, an approximate, suspected generation length is used. A midway point of 7.5 years between a very conservative low of five years, and the larger Spinetail Devil Ray's 10-year generation length is suspected to be the approximate generation length for the Shortfin Devil Ray until more accurate information becomes available (Cuevas-Zimbron et al. 2013).
Taxon
Taxa
Mobula kuhlii | (Müller & Henle, 1841)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Combined morphological and molecular data led Last et al. (2016) and White et al. (2017) to conclude that M. eregoodootenkee is a junior synonym of M. kuhlii. However, Hosegood et al. (2019) suggested these were separate species, which was supported by Notarbartolo di Sciara et al. (2020), who also clarified the nomenclature as M. eregoodoo.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Shortfin Devil Ray occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Notarbartolo di Sciara et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
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 Shortfin Devil Ray occurs throughout UAE waters and may be locally common there. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE and capture of this species is totally banned there. When captured in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman, it is typically discarded alive, and significant declines are not suspected there at this time. It is a component of the bycatch in several fisheries (e.g., Pakistan), and is directly targeted in Sri Lanka and India. Its low productivity causes it to be susceptible to rapid population declines, and severe declines have recently been confirmed from Pakistan (over the past three years). 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 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 23 years. It is listed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting the thresholds for Vulnerable 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 is unavailable. This species is impacted by target (for fins and their valuable meat) and bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Manta rays are easy to target because of their large size, slow swimming speed, aggregation behaviour and predictable habitat use.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Chiloscyllium arabicum | 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 Arabian Carpetshark occurs in coastal waters in coral reefs, lagoons, rocky shores, muddy bottoms and mangrove estuaries from 2-100 m. This shark is less than 10 cm total length (TL) at birth, but grows to a maximum length of 80 cm TL (Weigmann 2016). Females mature at 52 cm TL and males at about 55 cm TL (Moore and Peirce 2013). The species is oviparous, with single egg cases developing in each uterus. It appears to be closely associated with coral reefs. Age data are not available, but generation length is estimated as 9 years using data from the similar-sized White-spotted Bambooshark (C. plagiosum) (Chen et al. 2007).
Taxon
Taxa
Chiloscyllium arabicum | Gubanov, 1980
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This species was first described by Gubanov and Schleib (1980) but Dingerkus and DeFino (1983) described it as a separate species, Chiloscyllium confusum, without mention of C. arabicum. Compagno (1984) provisionally recognized C. arabicum but noted it was apparently very close to C. punctatum. Dingerkus and DeFino's account clearly establishes this species as separate from C. punctatum (Compagno 2001). This species has been widely misreported as C. griseum, at least in the Arabian Gulf, and the distribution of these two similar species requires clarification. There is a high need for taxonomic investigation regarding species in the genus Chiloscyllium in the Arabian Sea region (D. Ebert pers. comm. 2017).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Arabian Carpetshark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is restricted to the Arabian Sea region from the Arabian Gulf to India. Records from Oman require confirmation. Another Chiloscyllium species, which is similar to the Arabian Carpetshark and possibly undescribed, may occur in northwestern India (R.W. Jabado pers. comm. 07/02/2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
A2cd+3cd
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 Arabian Carpetshark occurs throughout UAE coastal waters, and is common in the Arabian Gulf. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and recently conducted surveys frequently detected it in the area. It is not targeted in the Arabian Sea region, but appears to be a major component of bycatch in trawl (and other) fisheries, and is typically discarded due to its small size and low market value. It has a close association with coral reef and estuarine habitats, which are prone to degradation and loss in the Gulf due to coastal development and impacts to benthic communities from demersal trawling. 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 and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 27 years. It is listed as Near Threatened, nearly meeting the thresholds for 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. The Arabian Carpetshark is known to have close association with coral reef habitats, which are particularly prone to anthropogenic degradation and the effects of climate change (Carpenter et al. 2008, Normile 2016). In the Gulf, habitat degradation threats include impacts from the damming of the Tigris-Euphrates river system in Turkey and draining of the Iraqi marshes (Al-Yamani et al. 2007), chronic and acute (e.g., war-related) releases of oil, rapid large-scale coastal development (e.g., megastructures in the UAE), and disturbance of benthic communities due to demersal trawling. Coastal land reclamation has accelerated in this area in recent years and, as a result, coastal reefs and other habitat have been destroyed. This has also resulted in the almost total loss of mangrove areas around Bahrain (Morgan 2006a). High levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo [a] pyrene have been reported from this species in Kuwait (Al-Hassan et al. 2000). 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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Glaucostegus halavi | 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
This species inhabits shallow sandy areas often less than 5 m deep, but occurs down to 100 m depth. The young are born at about 29 cm total length (TL) (Gohar and Mazhar 1964), and the maximum size is at least 187 cm TL (Moore and Peirce 2013). No data are available for age at maturity, but size at maturity is believed to be around 83 cm TL (Last et al. 2016). Mature females produce litters of up to 10 young (Gohar and Mazhar 1964). The generation length is estimated from the Giant Guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus) from northern Australia (White et al. 2014) at 10 years (see global assessment supplementary information), but it is noted that the Halavi Guitarfish is substantially smaller than this species (Last et al. 2016).
Taxon
Taxa
Glaucostegus halavi | (Forsskål, 1775)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Changes to the systematics of Rhinobatos elevated the subgenus Glaucostegus to full generic status and placed this genus into a family of its own: Glaucostegidae (Compagno 2005, Last et al. 2016a).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Halavi Guitarfish occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is restricted to the Arabian Sea region, occurring from the Red Sea to Gujarat, India (Last et al. 2016).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
A2bd
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 Halavi Guitarfish occurs throughout coastal waters of the UAE. It likely grows slowly and matures late, which causes it to have a low productivity. In the past, it was taken in variable quantities in gill net and trawl fisheries. Landings in the UAE declined by about 80-90% over the past decade, but conservation measures implemented in 2008 and 2012 that reduced fishing effort likely account for some of this decline. A total ban on fishing for this species in the UAE was implemented in 2019, but it continues to be taken in fisheries in adjacent areas, and it is possible that propagules can move in and out of UAE waters. Degradation of inshore habitats caused by pervasive coastal development in the UAE and Arabian Gulf region may also impact this species. Based on catch data, it is inferred this species declined by at least 30% over the past three generation lengths (30 years) in the UAE. It is listed as Vulnerable A2bd. Further research is needed on life history and improvements in regional-level fisheries monitoring are recommended.
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 has historically been impacted by fishing in the UAE. Due to the implementation of a total fishing ban in the UAE in 2019, the threat from fishing may be reduced, but exploitation continues in areas neighboring UAE waters. Finning has been banned in the UAE, yet surveys indicate that some trade in the fins and meat of this species still occurs. The inshore habitats that this species utilizes have been impacted by coastal development in the UAE (UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment 2016, 2018). Marine habitats in the Arabian Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance due to major development activities (including dredging and sea-filling), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010, Moore et al. 2012).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Carcharhinus sorrah | 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
A common, inshore shark, the Spottail Shark is found on continental and insular shelves from close inshore to a depth of at least 140 m (Compagno and Niem 1998). The species is common over mud and sand bottom in depths between 20-50 m but also occurs near coral reefs (Last and Stevens 1994). In the Arabian Seas region, it grows to 196 cm TL (Jabado et al. 2016), which is larger than reported for this species in Australia and southeast Asia (to 160 cm TL) (Ebert et al. 2013). This species is born at 44 - 72 cm TL, males mature at 106-109 cm TL and females at 110-118 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2013, Jabado et al. 2016). It is viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta (White et al. 2006, Compagno et al. 2005). It exhibits a gestation period of 11 months and a reproductive periodicity of one year. Litter size in the region ranges from 2-4 pups/litter (Elhassan unpubl. data). Ageing data from Australia indicates that maturity occurs at 2-3 years and reaches a maximum of 14 years (Davenport and Stevens 1988). Generation length is estimated to be 8 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Carcharhinus sorrah | (Müller & Henle, 1839)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Spottail Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Last and Stevens 2009).
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 Spottail Shark occurs throughout UAE inshore and offshore waters. It is commonly taken in a wide range of artisanal and commercial fisheries and is often one of the dominant species in shark catches in the Arabian Sea region. Inshore fishing pressure is intense and increasing. Anecdotal information indicates that declines have occurred over the past 20 years in UAE waters; however, quantitative data are not available to estimate the percent decline over three generation lengths (about 24 years). 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 and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 30-50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 24 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
In the UAE, sharks have been impacted by targeted commercial fisheries until 2014 when a ban on export of sharks was imposed (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). Sharks continue to be impacted by artisanal and bycatch fisheries (Annual Fisheries Statistical Report for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2001-2018), though catch data are not species-specific. Marine habitats in the region have experienced high levels of disturbance and are quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (Sheppard <em style=""font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2; text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"">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:

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Pupalia lappacea | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

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
This species is an annual or perennial amaranth that grows up to 150 cm (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It grows in silt among rocks and produces round leaves in addition to flowers from February to April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is typically found in shaded, sheltered and relatively mesic conditions. The species appears to be long lived as known individuals have survived in the same locality for over a decade (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010).
Taxon
Taxa
Pupalia lappacea | (L.) Juss.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
In the UAE, this species is found in Wadi Naqab and in the Ru'us al-Jibal Mountains in the UAE (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). Karim and Fawzi (2007) recorded it from Wadi Sha'am. The extent of occurrence (EOO) of this species is estimated at less than 294 km<sup>2</sup>. This species is widespread in the tropics of the Old World. It occurs in tropical Africa from Egypt to South Africa and Madagascar (APD 2019), through the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman, the UAE) to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018). It is introduced in Australia.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
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
This species is considered to be very rare: it is known from few records and has a restricted distribution. The number of mature individuals is estimated to not exceed 200-300. In addition, it doesn't appear to occur in any protected areas and is not cultivated in any way. It is also unclear whether this species is currently threatened. The species is assessed as Endangered on the basis of the restricted number of mature individuals. There not known to be any adjacent populations in Oman, and no rescue effect is inferred; the seed is burred and presumed to be transported by larger animals.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
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 appears to be grazed, however, it is not clear to what extent this poses a threat to the species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The situation in 1996 is thought to be similar to the current situation, including a relatively small population size.
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