1A Vulnerability Assessment for the Great Barrier Reef Sharks and rays Summary Diversity

Currently 134 known species of sharks and rays divided into six functional groups. Susceptibility Using ecological risk assessment processes,1,2 at least 30 species of shark and ray in the World Heritage Area are known to be at risk to climate change and 11 species are assessed as being at high risk to the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery. These species are particularly vulnerable as they tend to exhibit the life-history traits of slow growth rate, low reproduction rate, late maturing, are found in low abundance and are relatively long-lived (population not adapted to early mortalities). They can also display high habitat specificity and have a highly selective diet exposing them to certain impacts. Further ecological risk assessment processes are likely to reveal other species vulnerable to particular impacts due to them exhibiting similar traits. Major pressures Commercial fishing, recreational fishing, climate change, coastal development, declining water quality due to catchment run-off and the combined effect of these. Cumulative pressures Cumulative impacts are of great concern as they act over space and time to apply a combined effect that is often difficult to quantify. Sharks and rays associated with inshore habitats are exposed to cumulative pressures resulting from climate change, coastal development, declining water quality and commercial and recreational fishing. These pressures are likely to impact on the species directly, on their habitats and available prey species. Management in the Great Barrier Reef and adjacent areas in Queensland Legislated management tools for the conservation of sharks and rays that occur in the World Heritage Are