Taxon name
Glaucostegus halavi
(Forsskål, 1775)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Glaucostegus halavi
(Forsskål, 1775)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Fishes
Species authority
(Forsskål, 1775)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
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).
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A2bd
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
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 details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
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).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
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).
Threats and conservation measures listed
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).
Publication
Ralph, G.M., Stump, E., Linardich, C., Bullock, R.W., Carpenter, K.E., Allen D.J., Hilton-Taylor, C., Al Mheiri, R., and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes. 2021. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
