Overview

This Caribbean reef shark is the mainstay of the shark diving industry across the wider Caribbean and is the most economically important species in the region. Furthermore, it is known to play an important ecological role as a meso-and-apex predator in coral reef ecosystems maintaining the health and functioning of these key habitats through the cycling and movement of nutrients. However, despite this importance their biology and ecology remain poorly understood in much of the Bahamas. For example, Andros Island hosts the third largest fringing reef in the world, and likely serves as a key source population for the rest of the Bahamas yet we know nothing about the movement ecology of the reef sharks in this system. Given significant declines in reef shark abundance are suspected throughout much of its range, understanding its spatial ecology is critical for successful fisheries management, recovery and conservation planning. Here we combine a variety of methods including mark-recapture, baited remote underwater video, chemical analysis and acoustic tracking to examine their abundance, distribution, habitat, resource and space use in Andros Island.

Conservation concern

Recent evidence indicates that overfishing has driven sharks toward functional extinction on many reefs. A species-level survey revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. The Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi), is an abundant, large-bodied, reef-associated predator distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and greater Caribbean. It is estimated that the Caribbean Reef Shark has undergone a population reduction of 50–79% over the past three generation lengths (29 years), and it is assessed as Endangered by the IUCN Redlist. This is due to the relatively high level of inadequately-managed fishing pressure, its relatively unproductive life history, the lack of enforcement in established protected areas, and a continuing decline in habitat quality. In the Bahamas they are protected through the Shark Sanctuary, however enforcement is very underfunded and inadequate, making it possible that exploitation may be occurring at present or in the future. Baseline abundance and population trend data, alongside understanding its spatial ecology is critical for effective conservation of the species which will also promote both long-term ecological and economic benefits to The Bahamas.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• Do they display year-round residency to Andros Island, or do some use it as a mating / pupping ground?

• Are there reef sections that are more important than others, where sharks aggregate?

• Does sex or life stage (newborn to adult) impact how they use the reef?

Donate And Support Caribbean reef Shark Research

Adopt a Receiver/Shark Listening Station

If you would like to adopt an acoustic receiver, we will name it after you or your brand. We can place your name or branding on the receiver and will capture photos of the receiver being deployed! Receivers typically have a lifespan of 5-8 years.