Sharks and rays of the Samoan archipelago: a review of their biological diversity, social and cultural values, and conservation status

Tori Nunis; Michael I. Grant; Andrew Chin

doi:10.1071/PC23039

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Next Contents Vol 30(4)

Sharks and rays of the Samoan archipelago: a review of their biological diversity, social and cultural values, and conservation status

Tori Nunis

^A ^* , Michael I. Grant

^A and Andrew Chin

^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: tori.nunis@my.jcu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Alan Lymbery

Pacific Conservation Biology 30, PC23039 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC23039

Submitted: 8 September 2023 Accepted: 28 May 2024 Published: 24 June 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Data on chondrichthyan (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) populations is largely lacking for many countries and territories in the Indo-Pacific.

Aims

This study aims to provide a desktop review and information synthesis of the biodiversity, threats, and conservation of chondrichthyans in the Samoan archipelago (Samoa and American Samoa), focusing on their interactions with fisheries and exploring their social, cultural, and economic values.

Methods

This study uses various literature sources, citizen science, and in-country engagement to assemble a review of current available information on chondrichthyans.

Key results

A total of 67 chondrichthyans were documented to be present or potentially present in Samoa and American Samoa, consisting of 23 ray species and 44 shark species. Thirty-six of these species were listed in Threatened categories on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. A biological productivity analysis conducted for species with sufficient information indicated that the silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus), and whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) had the highest relative productivities.

Conclusions

Both Samoa and American Samoa have relatively diverse shark and ray communities with management plans in place to protect chondrichthyans. These include participation in Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission initiatives, spatial protections, and community-based management programs.

Implications

Current management approaches have the potential to provide significant protection to sharks and rays, however, their effectiveness may be hindered by a lack of proper enforcement, or compliance at the national and community levels.

Keywords: biodiversity, citizen science, conservation, fisheries, Indo-Pacific, management, productivity analysis, shark sanctuary.

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