AEBR 361 Identification and mapping of habitats of significance for sharks

Finucci, B.; Bennion, M.; Chin, C.; Duffy, C.A.J.; Morrison, M.; Struthers, C. (2025). Identification and mapping of habitats of significance for sharks. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No. 361. 248 p.

The aim of this project was to review existing literature and analyse data to identify areas that may be further identified as a habitat of particular significance (HoPS) for chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras). This project proposed 30 HoPS for 20 species of interest: six of the 20 species had at least one potential HoPS for spawning purposes identified and 10 species had at least one suspected potential HoPS identified. There were four species (blue shark, mako, porbeagle, basking shark) where potential HoPS could not be identified. No proposed HoPS is completely closed to fishing, and 22 proposed HoPS are completely open to fishing. All species evaluated here need further information to reduce knowledge gaps. Focal species and areas for future research, and alternative opportunities to collect data are discussed.

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