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Shallow coastal lagoons are vital ecosystems for many aquatic species and understanding their biodiversity is essential. Very little is known about the distribution and abundance of globally threatened marine megafauna in coastal lagoons of the Arabian Gulf. This study combined underwater and aerial surveys to investigate the distributions and relative abundance of marine megafauna in a large lagoon. We identified 13 species of megafauna including sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Eleven of these are globally threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Critically Endangered Halavi guitarfish (Glaucostegus halavi), and the Endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were the most frequently occurring species. Results demonstrate the value of combining aerial and underwater video surveys to obtain spatially comprehensive data on marine megafauna in shallow coastal lagoons. This new information emphasises the importance of Umm Al Quwain lagoon for biodiversity conservation to protect threatened marine species and their habitats. • Coastal lagoons of the Arabian Gulf host globally threatened marine megafauna. • We combined aerial and underwater surveys to investigate megafauna. • We identified 13 species of megafauna, including sea turtles, sharks, and rays. • Threatened Halavi guitarfish and green turtles were the most abundant. • Key information to support conservation actions in UAE coastal lagoons [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overfishing is recognized as the most pervasive threat to sharks and rays globally. While there is increasing emphasis on ecological aspects of shark and ray fisheries, socio-economic considerations are often poorly incorporated into management policies. Here, we assess the utilization and trade of sharks and rays across the Andaman Islands by conducting semi-structured interviews with 87 fishers and eight traders. Sharks and rays were exported to supply the meat market in peninsular India and contribute to the international trade in products such as fins, gill plates, and liver oil. A large proportion of fishers (n = 38, 43.67%) consumed sharks and rays due to declines in reef fish, as an accessible and cheap protein source. Small-sized sharks (<1 m total length), juvenile hammerheads, and uniformly coloured rays were preferred for local consumption. Fishers (n = 43, 49.42%) noted the difficulty of relying on profits from shark fishing due to declines in shark populations. However, it was easier to fish and trade rays due to their perceived abundance, few regulations, and increased demand for their products. Traders (n = 7, 87.5%) mentioned a rising demand for ray meat from peninsular India, leading to the development of a targeted ray fishery. Expanding and targeted shark and ray fisheries benefit the stakeholders who have the resources to invest, while affecting the livelihoods of others due to declining local fisheries resources. Our results highlight the need to revise and improve legal frameworks to consider the conservation needs of threatened species and likely impacts on local communities. • Utilization and trade of sharks and rays was assessed across the Andaman Islands. • Meat is exported to peninsular India, and fins, gill plates, liver oil to international markets. • Local consumption of sharks and rays has increased due to declines in teleost fish. • A targeted ray fishery is developing to meet demand for ray products. • Stakeholders are affected differently depending on their role in the distribution chain. • Existing policies are ineffective and need updating to consider socio-economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scarce information on the current importance of oyster beds as fishing grounds in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aims to understand the socio-economic value of oyster bed fisheries through questionnaire-based surveys with fishers. Of 106 Emirati fishers interviewed, 67 % use oyster beds due to the proximity to shore, better catch quality, and species abundance. Oyster bed fisheries are recreational and commercial, with handline and fish traps the most common used gears. They provide food for local consumption and cash income. All respondents noticed a fish abundance and size decrease throughout the last decade. Fishers suggest establishing marine protected areas and updating fishing regulations to improve fishing stock status. During the Covid-19 pandemic, oyster fisheries increased, highlighting the value of these fishing grounds for food availability. These fisheries support the local economy and heritage, and urgently need management to ensure the protection of these often-overlooked habitats. • Oyster beds provide food and income for local communities in the UAE. • Fishers were interviewed to assess their importance as fishing grounds. • Fishers indicated reductions in oyster beds' area and fish abundance and size. • Fishing activities in oyster beds habitats increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. • Management actions are needed to preserve oyster bed habitats and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in the demand for shark products, particularly fins, has led to the worldwide overexploitation of many elasmobranch species. Although there are growing concerns about this largely unregulated and unmonitored trade, little information still exists about its dynamics, the species involved and the impact of this pressure on stocks in various regions. Our study provides the first attempt at characterizing the trade in shark products from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the fourth largest exporter in the world of raw dried shark fins to Hong Kong. A review of trade records and informal interviews with local traders confirmed that the UAE is being used as hub in the broader North Indian Ocean region for the trade in shark products with the Emirati fishery minimally contributing to this trade. Results based on morphological identification of sharks ( n = 12,069) and DNA barcoding of tissue samples ( n = 655) indicated that the trade was made up of at least 37 species. The most abundant families represented at the Dubai study site were the Sphyrnidae (9.3%), Lamnidae (9%) and Alopiidae (5.9%). While information was mostly limited to shark products originating from the UAE and Oman, results indicated that 45.3% of species traded were considered to be at high risk of global extinction based on the IUCN Red List Global Assessments. Since many of the species found during this survey are likely part of stocks shared with other countries, regional cooperation and management will be crucial to ensure their long term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For elusive, data-poor marine fauna, Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) can be a rich and often underutilised source of biological and ecological data. We used a socio-ecological approach to assess LEK and provide key insights into the distribution, habitat use pattern, and threats facing giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegus spp.) in the Andaman Islands, India. We interviewed 175 fishers and other coastal users (SCUBA divers, coastal residents, researchers etc.), 142 of whom had seen giant guitarfishes. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of this genus, this study did not attempt to collect species specific data. However, data presented here most likely refer to the Giant Guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus) as it is the only species from this family confirmed from the Andaman Islands. Our results show that LEK can be an invaluable asset in understanding the distribution of little-known species. With sightings from over 70 locations, our data indicate that giant guitarfishes occur widely and the frequent sightings of pup-sized (<45 cm) individuals in shallow coastal waters suggests they could be using these habitats as nursery grounds. The identification of several potential nursery areas highlights locations of their range that need urgent protection to aid in their conservation. The only other location where G. typus is reportedly still frequently observed is northern Australia, making the Andaman Island population globally significant. However, rapid coastal transformation and growing fisheries likely threaten the species. With more than 33% of reported observations being over a decade old, our data suggest that populations have drastically declined, highlighting the need to regulate fisheries and coastal development in the Andamans. Including giant guitarfishes under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act would also be an essential step towards managing this globally important population. • Local Ecological Knowledge provided baseline data on giant guitarfishes in India. • Identification of critical giant guitarfish habitats can aid in their conservation. • Our data suggest that juveniles may use shallow coastal waters as nursery grounds. • If protected, the Islands could be a hotspot for these Critically Endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wedgefishes (Rhinidae) and giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegidae) are amongst the most threatened marine taxa globally. Research was undertaken in Singapore, a globally significant trading hub for shark and ray products, between May 2019 (two months after they were proposed for listing on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES)) and August 2019 (three months before listings entered into force). The study documents the composition of imports and landings, estimates the scale of the trade, describes the supply chain, and analyzes completeness of product labels through surveys in fishery ports and retail markets as well as informal interviews with traders. Of 590 individuals recorded at fishery ports, 215 from six species could be identified to the species-level. Rhynchobatus australiae was the most commonly encountered wedgefish species (66%) while only one species of giant guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus) was recorded. Individuals were primarily claimed to be imported from Indonesia and Malaysia. The high value of wedgefish fins was evident as a large proportion of individuals without fins (66%) were recorded. Businesses in Singapore were utilizing by-products of the fin trade which appeared to have a distinct supply chain. Traders noted declining supplies of wedgefishes and dried shark fins in recent years. Shark and ray products notably lacked information on species and country of origin on their labels. Findings here provide baseline data for determining the effectiveness of new trade controls and suggest that a multi-pronged approach with trade monitoring, additional traceability and labeling requirements, and enhanced fisheries management would conserve globally declining, wild populations. • Six species of wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes identified at Singapore fishery ports. • 66% of individuals were recorded at the fishery ports without their fins. • Traders stated that the majority originated from Indonesia but catch locations are unknown. • Traders noted that supply appears to have reduced in quantities and varied in frequency over the years. • Labels on many shark and ray products lacked information on species and origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly advocated for the protection of key functional groups like elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding which species can benefit from MPAs, crucial information to support policy and management plans. Using Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys (BRUVS), a study was conducted on Sir Bu Nair Island in the United Arab Emirates encompassing a range of depths and habitat types within the MPA borders. A total of 96 deployments with 117 video hours recorded were analysed to assess the diversity, relative abundance and habitat associations of elasmobranchs. Surveys recorded 40 elasmobranchs including two species of sharks and seven species of rays. Overall, catch per unit effort for elasmobranchs was slightly higher overall, lower for sharks, and higher for rays compared to a similar study using BRUVS across United Arab Emirates waters. Two reef-associated species in early life stages, blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and Halavi guitarfish (Glaucostegus halavi) listed as Near Threatened and Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species respectively showed the highest frequency of occurrence of species representing 44.4% of all sightings. These results show the value of this MPA in protecting critical habitats for elasmobranchs while suggesting its limitation in protecting adult life stages and other elasmobranchs with wider ranging movements that are likely threatened by fishing in waters adjacent to the MPA. This study provides critical information to support the development of a Sir Bu Nair management plan and highlights further research needs around the island. Finally, it reinforces the need of additional management measures to protect and promote the recovery of elasmobranchs in the United Arab Emirates and broader Arabian Gulf. • We assessed the diversity and relative abundance of sharks and rays. • Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys were deployed at Sir Bu Nair island, UAE. • Overall, Catch Per Unit Effort was slightly higher than similar studies in the UAE. • Two reef-associated species in early life stages were the most abundant species. • This MPA provides limited protection to elasmobranchs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological data are being opportunistically synthesised at unprecedented scales in response to the global biodiversity and climate crises. Such syntheses are often only possible through large-scale, international, multidisciplinary collaborations and provide important pathways for addressing urgent conservation questions. Although large collaborative data syntheses can lead to high-impact successes, they can also be plagued with difficulties. Challenges include the standardisation of data originally collected for different purposes, integration and interpretation of knowledge sourced across different disciplines and spatio-temporal scales, and management of differing perspectives from contributors with distinct academic and cultural backgrounds. Here, we use the collective expertise of a global team of conservation ecologists and practitioners to highlight common benefits and hurdles that arise with the development of opportunistic collaborative syntheses. We outline a framework of "best practice" for developing such collaborations, encompassing the design, implementation, and deliverable phases. Our framework addresses common challenges, highlighting key actions for successful collaboration and emphasizing the support requirements. We identify funding as a major constraint to sustaining the large, international, multidisciplinary teams required to advance collaborative syntheses in a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive way. We further advocate for thinking strategically from the outset and highlight the need for reshaping funding agendas to prioritize the structures required to propel global scientific networks. Our framework will advance the science needed for ecological conservation and the sustainable use of global natural resources by supporting proto-groups initiating new syntheses, leaders and participants of ongoing projects, and funders who want to facilitate such collaborations in the future. • Increasingly complex global environmental challenges call for speed up research. • Large collaborative data syntheses lead to high-impact successes. • Bottom-up, opportunistic collaborative syntheses can address global wicked problems. • Despite their value, opportunistic syntheses are plagued with challenges. • We provide a framework for 'best practice' of such collaborative projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hawksbill turtles ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), which are distributed throughout the world's oceans, have undergone drastic declines across their range, largely due to anthropogenic factors. Assessing sizes, genetic variability and structure of their populations at global and regional levels is critical to the development of conservation management strategies. Here, nuclear and mitochondrial markers were used to analyse patterns of parentage and population structure in hawksbill turtles in United Arab Emirates (UAE) waters, utilizing samples from two life stages (hatchlings and juveniles), and to compare the UAE population with neighboring populations. Weak genetic differentiation was detected between juveniles and hatchlings and between the nesting sites of Dubai and Sir Bu Nair. Parentage analysis suggested that only 53 females and 74–80 males contributed to the hatchlings from 67 nests across three nesting sites in UAE (Dubai, Sir Bu Nair, Abu Dhabi). No females were identified as nesting in more than one location. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, single paternity was the norm (75%), whereas on Sir Bu Nair, multiple paternity was detected in the majority of nests (67%). Polygyny was also frequently detected on Sir Bu Nair (15% of the overall number of males), but not in the other nesting sites. Comparison of the UAE population with published data from other populations suggests that population structure exists both within the Gulf and between the Gulf and Indian Ocean populations, and that the UAE population has lower genetic variability than the Seychelles population. Finally, the data suggest that the UAE population, and the Gulf population overall, experienced a bottleneck/founder event. The observed overall low genetic variability, evidence of population structure in the Gulf, and strong differentiation between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean populations, raises concerns about the sustainability of this species in this near-enclosed basin. These results highlight the need for regional collaboration in the development of management measures for the long-term conservation of this Critically Endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation science is crucial to global conservation efforts, and often involves projects where foreign scientists visit a host country to conduct research. Science can significantly contribute to conservation efforts in host countries. However, poorly conceived and implemented projects can lead to poor conservation outcomes, cause negative impacts on communities, and compromise future research. This paper presents guidance from scientists, managers, and conservation practitioners following the 10th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, the region's largest ichthyology meeting where delegates presented many examples of collaborative research. The guidance provided focuses on issues regarding planning and preparation, collaboration and reciprocity, and conduct and protocol. The intent is to provide conservation scientists with practical advice from locally based and experienced conservation scientists and practitioners about how to maximise research effectiveness and conservation benefits when working abroad. A range of activities and approaches are suggested that visiting scientists can adopt and implement to build the relationships and trust needed for effective collaboration with local actors. Building effective collaborations between local actors and visiting scientists can maximise research effectiveness and impact by ensuring that projects address the most important issues and conservation concerns, involve the appropriate people, use suitable methods and approaches, and carefully consider local contexts and ethics. Such projects are more likely to provide lasting benefits to both parties, and enhance conservation outcomes. However, both visiting scientists and local actors need to communicate clearly, be accommodating, and commit to a genuine partnership to realise these benefits. • Partnerships between visiting scientists and local actors are essential to effective conservation science. • Advice from local scientists, managers and conservation practitioners on building effective partnerships is presented. • This advice relates to project planning and preparation, collaboration and reciprocity, and conduct and protocol. • Specific guidance is provided for visiting scientists, local collaborators, and host nations and agencies. • Clear communication and expectations, trust, honesty and integrity, reciprocity, and respect are key reoccurring elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]