NT

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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Acomys dimidiatus | 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
Predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal and prefers all kinds of rocky habitats (Harrison and Bates 1991). Found on boulder-strewn slopes and rocky terrain where it lives in crevices among boulders (Cunningham 2008) and in wadi beds in Wadi Wurayah (Judas 2016). In a community structure study of Jebel Al Jais in Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, the species was recorded at elevations ranging from 450-“1,650 m, was most abundant in the wadi area around 450 m, and its abundance declined with increasing altitude (Melville and Chaber 2016). It was trapped at around 180 m asl on he outlying hill of Jebel Nazwa (Qarn Nazwa) in 2018 (J. Judas pers. comm. 2018). This species is omnivorous (Melville and Chaber 2016). There is evidence from trapping surveys that the Arabian Spiny Mouse is more susceptible than other small mammal species to disturbance and fragmentation (B. Howarth pers. comm. 2018).
Taxon
Taxa
Acomys dimidiatus | (Cretzschmar, 1826)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Formerly considered a subspecies of Acomys cahirinus. See Musser and Carleton (2005) for details concerning the relationship between Acomys dimidiatus and A. cahirinus.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1971 at Jebel Faiyah, Sharjah, and then again in 1991 when a dead specimen was found by a road near Ghayl, Ra's al Khaimah. Subsequent surveys have shown that this species is quite widespread and numerous through the Hajar Mountains at lower elevations, particularly where Acacia tortilis is present. The species is also found on Jebel Hafeet, where it occurs at all elevations including barren rocks near the summit (Aspinall et al. 2005). It has also been recorded at several sites in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK Nature pers. comm. 2018) and on Qarn Nazwa in Dubai Emirate. Globally, this species is distributed from the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt through much of the Arabian Peninsula to Iran and southern Pakistan (Cassola 2016a).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
B1b(iii)
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
Within the UAE, this species is restricted to rocky areas, primarily the Hajar Mountains, Jebel Hafeet and Qarn Nazwa. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is just over 6,000 km<sup>2</sup>, there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat due to a variety of threats, however, the number of locations is more than ten and the range is not severely fragmented, so it is assessed as Near Threatened (close to qualifying for a threatened category under criterion B1ab(iii)). There might be some rescue effect from populations in adjoining countries, particularly Oman, but this is not thought to be significant hence the regional assessment is not adjusted.
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
Overgazing, quarrying, road construction and other development activities in the mountains result in habitat loss and degradation and increased fragmentation. Species in the mountains may also be affected indirectly by falling water tables due to over-abstraction and reduced precipitation. An increase in numbers of feral cats and Red Foxes may also pose a threat to all small mammals.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Near Threatened (almost meets a threatened listing under criterion B1ab(iii)) which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
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Porites lobata | 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 is frequently a dominant species of back reef margins, lagoons and some fringing reefs, and generally can be found to depths of 30 m. It is one of the predominant framework builders, sometimes building monospecific reef frameworks or contributing to pocilloporid reef building (Glynn 2001). It is a relatively slow-growing species with reported growth rates of 8.4 mm/year in Costa Rica and 8.1 mm/year in the Galápagos; however, it can grow as fast as 14 to 19 mm/year during the first few years (Guzmán and Cortes 1993, Cortés and Guzmán 1998, Guzmán and Cortés 1989). This species utilizes a gonochoristic reproductive strategy (except from Caño Island, Costa Rica), and is presumably a broadcaster spawner (Glynn et al. 1994). Glynn et al. (1994) suggested that eastern Pacific populations appeared to be reproductively active over multiple annual intervals, including periods of relatively low temperature. According to Glynn et al. (1994), fecundity can vary between regions; P. lobata has higher fecundities at Caño Island, Costa Rica, and Uva Island, Panama, than in the Galápagos Islands, where water temperatures are lower and more seasonally variable. Moreover, Glynn et al. (1994) suggest that P. lobata reproduces twice per year in thermally high and stable environments. Fecundity of this coral appears to benefit from moderate sea warming events, but may decline dramatically during unusually strong thermal anomalies (Glynn et al. 1994). After 1983, observations of sexual recruitment have been rare to infrequent in the eastern Pacific; however sexual recruitment has been observed in some areas of the Galápagos Islands (Glynn et al. 1994). The almost complete absence of sexual recruitment for this species in the eastern Pacific may be due to high larval mortality in the water column; as well as increased levels of competition with benthic alga, and increased densities of grazers and bioeroders following the 1982-83 El Niño event (Glynn et al. 1994).Porites lobata can also reproduce asexually by fragmentation (Guzmán and Cortés 1989, Cortés and Guzmán 1998, Cortés and Jiménez 2003). In the eastern Pacific the incidental feeding activities of the triggerfish Pseudobalistes naufragium can generate fragments that survive to form new colonies (Guzmán and Cortés 1989, Cortés and Guzmán 1998, Glynn et al. 1994). This form of fragmentation is common in Costa Rica and Panama, but uncommon in the Galápagos Islands (Glynn et al. 1994). Fragmentation also occurs by initial weakening of colonies by bioeroders; P. lobata colonies possess high densities of boring bivalves (Lithophaga spp.), which erode the skeletal structure, a process that can also lead to fragmentation (Cortés and Jiménez 2003, Glynn et al. 1994).At least eight fish species feed on live corals, with their feeding strategies ranging from removing mainly live tissue and causing little damage to the skeleton, to abrading or breaking apart colonies in the feeding process, such as during feeding of Arothron meleagris and Pseudobalistes naufragium (Guzmán and Cortes 1989, Glynn 2001). It is commonly grazed by the puffer Arothron meleagris (Guzmán and Robertson 1989, Glynn et al. 1994).The age of first maturity of most reef building corals is typically three to eight years (Wallace 1999) and therefore we assume that average age of mature individuals is greater than eight years. Total longevity is not known, but likely to be more than ten years. Furthermore, based on average sizes and growth rates, we assume that average generation length is 10 years, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, any population decline rates for the Red List assessment are measured over at least 30 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Porites lobata | Dana, 1846
Taxonomic Group
Invertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Corals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Porites baueri and Porites excavata are now synonyms of this species.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is reported from UAE waters in both the Gulf and Sea of Oman (Riegl et al. 2012, Grizzle et al. 2016).Elsewhere, this species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
A2bc
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 stony coral is common and can be a dominant species along both coasts of the UAE. It can survive sedimentation and has low susceptibility to bleaching, but other species of Porites are particularly susceptible to disease and extensive reduction of coral reef habitat due to a combination of threats. This species is among the most common corals in Fujairah and occurs along the entire coast of the UAE, but becomes less common to the west. Species-specific population trend data are not available and therefore are based on the data available for the genus. Despite the relatively low susceptibility to bleaching, the most recent bleaching event (2017) resulted in over 75% mortality of Porites in shallow-water habitats of Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere, however, Porites are in better shape. For example, Porites species are relatively stable in Dubai. In Fujairah, Porites species are increasing, likely recovering from an earlier decline after a massive harmful algal bloom and cyclone in 2007-2008. Although recent (post-2011) data are limited, there have been no major disturbances since then. As this species is more abundant in areas that are improving in status, it is suspected that overall declines in the UAE are likely approaching but not exceeding 30% over three generations (1989-2019). Therefore, it is listed as Near Threatened under criterion A2bc. No regional adjustment is made to the Near Threatened listing.
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 Gulf, the major threats to corals include extreme and increasing temperature variability due to climate change, as well as direct destruction and increased turbidity caused by coastal construction (Riegl et al. 2012). Although bleaching thresholds in the Gulf are the highest recorded in the world (Riegl et al. 2012), bleaching events in the UAE have resulted in significant mortality (such as in 1996-1998, 2002, 2010 and 2017) and slow recovery (Burt et al. 2008). In Abu Dhabi, the most recent coral bleaching event resulted in nearly 95% of corals bleaching, and by April 2018, mortality reached 73% (Burt et al. 2019). This event resulted in mass mortality of even the more stress-tolerant corals such as poritids and merulinids (Burt et al. 2019). Coastal development, particularly large-scale offshore real estate developments and sedimentation associated with reclamation, has directly buried coral reefs in the Gulf (Burt et al. 2008, 2013; Burt 2014; Burt and Bartholomew 2019). In the Sea of Oman, UAE reefs have experienced major hurricanes and harmful algal blooms that caused high coral mortality and shifted community structure (Bauman et al. 2010, Foster et al. 2011).The genus is not particularly susceptible to bleaching, but is more prone to disease than many other corals. Coral disease has emerged as a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide and is a major cause of reef deterioration (Weil 2006). The numbers of diseases and coral species affected, as well as the distribution of diseases have all increased dramatically within the last decade (Porter et al. 2001, Green and Bruckner 2000, Sutherland et al. 2004, Weil 2004). Coral disease epizootics have resulted in significant losses of coral cover and were implicated in the dramatic decline of acroporids in the Florida Keys (Aronson and Precht 2001, Porter et al. 2001, Patterson et al. 2002). In the Indo-Pacific, disease is also on the rise with disease outbreaks recently reported from the Great Barrier Reef (Willis et al. 2004), Marshall Islands (Jacobson 2006) and the northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Aeby et al. 2006). Increased coral disease levels on the Great Barrier Reef were correlated with increased ocean temperatures (Willis et al. 2004) supporting the prediction that disease levels will be increasing with higher sea surface temperatures. Escalating anthropogenic stressors combined with the threats associated with global climate change of increases in coral disease, frequency and duration of coral bleaching and ocean acidification place coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific at high risk of collapse.Globally, the major threat to corals is global climate change, in particular, temperature extremes leading to bleaching and increased susceptibility to disease, increased severity of ENSO events and storms, and ocean acidification. In addition to global climate change, corals are also threatened by a number of localized threats. Localized threats to corals include fisheries, human development (industry, settlement, tourism, and transportation), changes in native species dynamics (competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites), invasive species (competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites), dynamite fishing, chemical fishing, pollution from agriculture and industry, domestic pollution, sedimentation, and human recreation and tourism activities.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Porites lutea | 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 occurs with P. lobata and P. australiensis on back reef margins, lagoons and fringing reefs, generally to depths of 30 m. It is commonly found from 1-15 m, with massive colonies at 3-5 m in the South China Sea and Gulf of Siam (Titlyanov and Titlyanova 2002). In American Samoa, one colony is known to be 6.5 m tall and 41 m circumference (D. Fenner pers. comm. 2008).The age of first maturity of most reef building corals is typically three to eight years (Wallace 1999) and therefore we assume that average age of mature individuals is greater than eight years. Total longevity is not known, but likely to be more than ten years. Furthermore, based on average sizes and growth rates, we assume that average generation length is 10 years, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, any population decline rates for the Red List assessment are measured over at least 30 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Porites lutea | Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851
Taxonomic Group
Invertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Corals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is reported from UAE waters in the Gulf and Sea of Oman (Riegl et al. 2012, R. Bento pers. obs. 2019).Elsewhere, this species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
A2bc
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 stony coral is common and likely found along both coasts of the UAE. It can survive sedimentation and has low susceptibility to bleaching, but other species of Porites are particularly susceptible to disease and harvesting for aquarium trade, and extensive reduction of coral reef habitat due to a combination of threats. Species-specific population trend data are not available and therefore are based on the data available for the genus. Despite the relatively low susceptibility to bleaching, the most recent bleaching event (2017) resulted in over 75% mortality of Porites in shallow-water habitats of Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere, however, Porites are in better shape. For example, Porites species are relatively stable in Dubai. In Fujairah, Porites species are increasing, likely recovering from an earlier decline after a massive harmful algal bloom and cyclone in 2007-2008. Although recent (post-2011) data are limited, there have been no major disturbances since then. As this species is more abundant in areas that are improving in status, it is suspected that overall declines in the UAE are likely approaching but not exceeding 30% over three generations (1989-2019). Therefore, it is listed as Near Threatened under criterion A2bc. No regional adjustment is made to the Near Threatened listing.
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 Gulf, the major threats to corals include extreme and increasing temperature variability due to climate change, as well as direct destruction and increased turbidity caused by coastal construction (Riegl et al. 2012). Although bleaching thresholds in the Gulf are the highest recorded in the world (Riegl et al. 2012), bleaching events in the UAE have resulted in significant mortality (such as in 1996-1998, 2002, 2010 and 2017) and slow recovery (Burt et al. 2008). In Abu Dhabi, the most recent coral bleaching event resulted in nearly 95% of corals bleaching, and by April 2018, mortality reached 73% (Burt et al. 2019). This event resulted in mass mortality of even the more stress-tolerant corals such as poritids and merulinids (Burt et al. 2019). Coastal development, particularly large-scale offshore real estate developments and sedimentation associated with reclamation, has directly buried coral reefs in the Gulf (Burt et al. 2008, 2013; Burt 2014; Burt and Bartholomew 2019). In the Sea of Oman, UAE reefs have experienced major hurricanes and harmful algal blooms that caused high coral mortality and shifted community structure (Bauman et al. 2010, Foster et al. 2011).The genus is not particularly susceptible to bleaching, but is more prone to disease than many other corals. Coral disease has emerged as a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide and is a major cause of reef deterioration (Weil 2006). The numbers of diseases and coral species affected, as well as the distribution of diseases have all increased dramatically within the last decade (Porter et al. 2001, Green and Bruckner 2000, Sutherland et al. 2004, Weil 2004). Coral disease epizootics have resulted in significant losses of coral cover and were implicated in the dramatic decline of acroporids in the Florida Keys (Aronson and Precht 2001, Porter et al. 2001, Patterson et al. 2002). In the Indo-Pacific, disease is also on the rise with disease outbreaks recently reported from the Great Barrier Reef (Willis et al. 2004), Marshall Islands (Jacobson 2006) and the northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Aeby et al. 2006). Increased coral disease levels on the Great Barrier Reef were correlated with increased ocean temperatures (Willis et al. 2004) supporting the prediction that disease levels will be increasing with higher sea surface temperatures. Escalating anthropogenic stressors combined with the threats associated with global climate change of increases in coral disease, frequency and duration of coral bleaching and ocean acidification place coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific at high risk of collapse.Globally , the major threat to corals is global climate change, in particular, temperature extremes leading to bleaching and increased susceptibility to disease, increased severity of ENSO events and storms, and ocean acidification. In addition to global climate change, corals are also threatened by a number of localized threats. Localized threats to corals include fisheries, human development (industry, settlement, tourism, and transportation), changes in native species dynamics (competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites), invasive species (competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites), dynamite fishing, chemical fishing, pollution from agriculture and industry, domestic pollution, sedimentation, and human recreation and tourism activities.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Isurus paucus | 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 Longfin Mako is a poorly-known epipelagic, tropical and warm-temperate shark, and its full depth range is unknown (Compagno 2001). It attains a maximum size of at least 427 cm total length (TL). Both males and females have been reported to mature at &gt;245 cm TL with the smallest mature male observed at 225 cm TL (Varghese et al. 2017). It is aplacental viviparous with oophagy and uterine cannibalism, and a pregnant female may have 2 to 8 embryos per litter. Size at birth is recorded at 97 to 120 cm TL (Compagno 2001). It has been suggested that females may approach land to pup (Compagno 2001). The generation length is suspected to be around 25 years, based on that of the Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) (Natanson et al. 2006).
Taxon
Taxa
Isurus paucus | Guitart, 1966
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Longfin Mako occurs in UAE waters on the Sea of Oman coast. It is excluded from the Arabian Gulf (Golani and Bogorodsky 2010). Globally, it is likely circumglobal in tropical and warm temperate waters. However, records are sporadic and the complete distribution remains unclear in part due to confusion with the more common Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) (Compagno 2001).
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
In UAE waters, the Longfin Mako occurs only in offshore waters of the Sea of Oman. Little is known on the population of this species in UAE waters. It is caught incidentally in pelagic longline fisheries, but comprises much lower proportions of the catch than the Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). Most catches of this species are inadequately recorded and likely underestimated. Its apparent rarity, large size, low fecundity and continued occurrence as bycatch in fisheries is concerning. 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 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 75 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
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.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Taeniurops meyeni | 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 Blotched Fantail Ray is benthic around coral reef habitats, seamounts and on sand substrates mostly at depths of 20-60 m (although records from depths to 400 m in pelagic longlines near seamounts exist) (Compagno et al. 1989, Last and Compagno 1999, Last et al. 2016). It reaches a maximum size of 180 cm disc width (DW) (Last and Stevens 2009). Males mature at 100-110 cm DW and size at birth is 30-35 cm DW (Last et al. 2016). It is a viviparous species, with reported litter size of up to seven young (Compagno et al. 1989). Age data are not available, but generation length can be estimated using data from another large dasyatid, the Brown Stingray (Dasyatis lata), females of which mature at 15 years and reach 28 years (Dale and Holland 2012), giving an estimated generation length of 21.5 years.
Taxon
Taxa
Taeniurops meyeni | (Müller & Henle, 1841)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Blotched Fantail Ray occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific (Last et al. 2016).
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 Blotched Fantail Ray occurs throughout UAE inshore waters. This species is incidentally captured in inshore fisheries, and mostly discarded in UAE waters. In India and Pakistan, it is under intense and increasing demersal fishing pressure. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and recently conducted surveys have detected it in the area. 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 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 64 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 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). 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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Gymnura poecilura | 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 Longtail Butterfly Ray occurs in shallow, inshore waters to a depth of at least 30 m, typically on sand or mud substrate (James 1966, Last et al. 2016). Its attains a maximum size of 104 cm disc width (DW) with males maturing at about 35 cm DW and females at 41 cm DW (Last et al. 2016). Size at birth is reported at 22-26 cm DW, but little else is known about the biology of this species. Fecundity appears to be low, being reported up to seven pups/litter, and females are known to commonly abort embryos upon capture. It is important to note that biological information on this species requires clarification as life-history traits vary greatly in the available literature and there might be some unresolved taxonomic questions regarding the species in the Arabian Sea region (e.g., Henderson et al. 2016, Last et al. 2016, Muktha et al. 2018). Generation length is estimated from the similar-sized Backwater Butterfly Ray (Gymnura natalensis) from South Africa that matures at 6 years and reaches a maximum age of 24, yielding a generation length of 15 years (van der Elst 1988).
Taxon
Taxa
Gymnura poecilura | (Shaw, 1804)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Longtail Butterfly Ray occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.
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 Longtail Butterfly Ray occurs throughout UAE inshore waters. It is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and recently conducted surveys have detected it in the area. It is regularly caught in shallow water trawls and is normally discarded at sea in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, but is retained in Pakistan and India. 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 20-30% over the past three generation lengths, or about 45 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 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).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Rhizoprionodon oligolinx | 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 Grey Sharpnose Shark is a small species that is very common in muddy littoral waters to depths of at least 36 m. It attains a maximum size of 93 cm total length (TL) with males maturing at 45-53 cm TL (Moore et al. 2012, Kizhakudan et al. 2015). It is a viviparous species that produces 3-7 young each year. Pups are born at around 25-30 cm (Kizhakudan et al. 2015). No age data is currently available, and a generation length of 4 years is estimated based on the closely related Milk Shark (Rhizoprinodon acutus) (Compagno 1984, Last and Stevens 2009).
Taxon
Taxa
Rhizoprionodon oligolinx | Springer, 1964
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Grey Sharpnose Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific (Last and Stevens 2009). In the Arabian Sea region, it occurs from the Arabian Gulf to Sri Lanka.
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 Grey Sharpnose Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. It is reported as a dominant species in landings in several Arabian Sea countries and is particularly susceptible to a variety of inshore fisheries that operate throughout the region. Intensive and increasing fishing means that, like many other sharks, populations are likely to have declined. 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 12 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
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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