About This Project

Saint Vincent has developed a shark fishery in recent years, but little is known about the commercially valuable species present or their conservation status in these waters. This project will gather important data on what shark species are present by working with fishers to record underwater video, assess shark diversity in local waters, and identify which sharks are being consumed. This data is a crucial step for improving knowledge of shark populations in the southern Caribbean.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Historically, shark meat has not been a preferred food item in the Caribbean, most catches coming from non-target bycatch. Recent data suggests a shift in local perceptions of sharks as food and their higher price per pound than other fish in local markets reflects these perceptions. Due to this market shift, shark fishing has become increasingly important to the locals of Saint Vincent in recent years and is becoming a reliable source of food/income through a subsistence fishery. While the catch and consumption of sharks has increased, our knowledge of the species in the area and which are being caught/consumed has not. This information is critical to sustainable management of this fishery.

What is the significance of this project?

Many sharks are less resilient to fishing pressure than other species due to life history traits such as low fecundity, late-age of maturity, and relatively slow growth rates. Due to this decreased resilience, there have been severe population declines across shark species, including up to an 85% decline in Atlantic coastal sharks. Saint Vincent presents a unique opportunity to work with local fishers to collect baseline data on the shark populations present and determine potential long-term impacts on these species.

What are the goals of the project?

We hope to collect information about what species are present in the waters surrounding Saint Vincent by deploying video recording devices. We will deploy the cameras twice each day we are in the country. This will amount to roughly 20 hours of video recording which will then be reviewed and shark species present will be identified and recorded. This will allow for an estimate of species diversity in the waters where sampling takes place. We will also identify what sharks are being sold in local markets to see if there are any species of conservation concern. These assessments will help inform local management of shark species in these waters.