This record provides an overview of the scope and research output of the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub project "Shark action plan". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.

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Sharks, rays and chimaeras are increasingly recognised as conservation priorities in Australia and globally, with several species affected by overexploitation, bycatch, habitat pressures, and climate change. Considering common threats and data gaps across these taxa can support more consistent conservation assessment, policy and management.

This project produced two major publications to strengthen the evidence base for shark, ray and chimaera conservation in Australia. The Shark Action Plan Policy Report 2018 reviewed extinction risk, distribution, data gaps, priority assessment needs, common threats, climate change research, and policy issues for internationally listed and Conservation Dependent species.

The Action Plan for Australian Sharks and Rays 2021 assessed the national extinction risk of Australia’s 328 shark, ray and chimaera species using International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria. Assessments considered available information on taxonomy, distribution, population status, habitat, ecology, threats, use and trade, and conservation measures.

The project provided a national benchmark for tracking future changes in species status, identified species requiring further research, and recommended conservation objectives for each species. Outputs support threatened species listing processes, fisheries and conservation management, and policy development at Commonwealth, state and territory levels.