Glaucostegus halavi | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Taxa
Glaucostegus halavi | (Forsskål, 1775)
Publication
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
A2bd
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.
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
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.
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
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:
Scientific Name | Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glaucostegus halavi | Animalia | Chordata | Chondrichthyes | Rhinopristiformes | Glaucostegidae | Glaucostegus |