Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2023-R9-low (1) - Flipbook - Page 33
Our Impacts in 2022
longimanus) spent most of its time in the surface 50m,
reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) showed different
diving patterns in different regions whilst whale sharks
(Rhincodon typus) were the deepest diving species at 1,896 m.
Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many
elasmobranchs living in the upper open ocean (defined as sea
depths down to 200m). This increases the likelihood these
species will overlap spatially, biologically interact, and share
similar risk to threats that vary on a vertical gradient.
This study shows the importance of incorporating vertical
as well as horizontal movement into global management
and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs. This includes
fisheries management and bycatch mitigation considering
how these fishes move vertically. Monitoring programmes
need to develop more affordable tags, increase geographic
coverage of studies to include developing nations, and of
under-represented species.
Marine Science 2022
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