Unscrupulous Utilization of Caribbean Shark Populations

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of California and collaborators have uncovered evidence of a significant decrease in Caribbean shark populations over time. The study, titled "Fossil dermal denticles reveal the preexploitation baseline of a Caribbean coral reef shark community," was published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The research, led by Erin M. Dillon, used fossil shark dermal denticles from a 7,000-year-old coral reef in the western Caribbean to estimate the abundance and composition of shark communities before and after human settlement. Dermal denticles, small scales covering a shark's body, provided valuable insights into the region's shark populations, offering a glimpse into the past.

The study found a 71% decrease in mean accumulation rates between the two time periods, suggesting that Caribbean sharks may have been up to three times more abundant before humans began using marine resources in the region. Moreover, the results showed a shift in the composition of the shark communities, with fast-swimming, pelagic sharks experiencing the largest declines.

Erin M. Dillon and her team used a method called denticle analysis to study shark populations. They collected dermal denticles from modern reefs as a comparison. The study was conducted along the coast of Panama.

The findings align with previous research, such as a 2020 study that found human activities have led to a severe decrease in Caribbean shark abundance. This research analysed historical and contemporary data, including archaeological records and modern surveys.

The authors of the study suggest that further research into historical dermal denticle assemblages can improve understanding of the impacts of human exploitation on shark communities over time and help guide conservation efforts in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

For more information about the study, you can contact Erin M. Dillon at the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA; tel: 650-776-0095; email: [email address removed for privacy]. Interestingly, it was reported that the study by Erin M. Dillon et al. has also been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.