Argyrops spinifer | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Publication
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
A2bd+4bd
Assessment rationale/justification
This coastal species occurs throughout UAE waters. It is targeted by commercial fisheries in the UAE and surrounding countries of the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman and is considered overexploited in Abu Dhabi. Based on catch data, stock assessments and fish market observations, this species is inferred to have declined by at least 80% over the past generation length, or 14 years. Its population status in areas neighboring the UAE is not known, but it is heavily exploited elsewhere as well. With recent fisheries management measures implemented in Abu Dhabi, it is difficult to say whether fishing effort will continue to increase or decrease within the near future; however, effort in this fishery in surrounding Emirates where management measures are not stringent may increase or remain the same. Considering that other Emirates and surrounding countries that likely share this stock do not have management measures in place to reduce effort in the gargoor fishery, population declines are expected to continue. It is listed as Critically Endangered A2bd+A4bd. As this species may be confused with two other recently described species from the region (Argyrops flavops and A. caeruleops), further taxonomic work is 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 + 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.
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Threats listed in assessment
Overfishing is a major threat to this species in the UAE (Grandcourt et al. 2014). Coastal development has been pervasive in the UAE and Arabian Gulf region, and this may impact the inshore habitats this species utilizes.
Conservation Measures
Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures: