Sharks on the Move: species distribution modelling of migratory sharks to inform ecosystem-based management under global change

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2021

End date

12/31/2025

Budget

1,474,278 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

Sharks play a key role as predators in the structure and functioning of marine communities. Three of the largest species in Norway, the basking shark, porbeagle and spurdog are considered endangered. However, some of the most fundamental and critical information about their distribution and the drivers of their occurrence are lacking. We also do not know in how far their distribution overlaps with areas of intense human activities and in how far the sharks are potentially affected and especially vulnerable in these areas. Increased knowledge of the sharks’ potential habitats in an ecosystem under pressure from fisheries, coastal development and climate change is therefore critical to assessing their vulnerability to these factors. The project’s objective is to strengthen our understanding of the environmental and ecological drivers of the present and projected distributions of these three shark species in Norwegian waters, using amongst others tagging experiments and data modelling. We will investigate the effects of human activities by combining information on fishing and aquaculture activities with observed and modelled shark distributions. The project aims to inform researchers and managers about factors that directly and indirectly affect the distribution of these sharks now and in the future, with a special focus on critical habitats, migration routes, climate change and interactions with fisheries and aquaculture. Identifying hotspots for potential conflicts is crucial for the sustainable management of these vulnerable sharks and their ecosystems, both today and in the light of projected climatic change.