State of the Reef Report 2005: Sharks and rays

Abstract

Some 125 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimeras are found in the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef), and inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Sharks have very conservative life history traits and are generally unable to withstand the levels of fishing most bony (teleost) fishes are able to sustain. Many shark fisheries around the world have collapsed. As sharks are apex predators, they help to control populations of prey species. Consequently, reducing the number of sharks may have significant and unpredictable impacts on other parts of the ecosystem. There is very little information available about the sharks in the Reef, and their status is unknown. The basic biological characteristics of most species in the Reef have yet to be studied. Some sharks found in the Reef are listed as threatened species.