Exploitation of Caribbean Shark Populations by Humans

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", researchers have provided compelling evidence of the impact of human exploitation on shark communities in the Caribbean.

The study, titled "Fossil dermal denticles reveal the preexploitation baseline of a Caribbean coral reef shark community," was led by marine biologist Lisa Hübner from the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and her research team. The research was conducted in the waters around the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao.

The study used fossil shark dermal denticles from a 7,000-year-old coral reef in Panama and modern reefs as a proxy to estimate shark populations before and after human settlement. The analysis of these denticles showed a 71% decrease in mean accumulation rates, indicating that Caribbean sharks may have been up to three times more abundant before human exploitation.

The shift in shark communities was also evident. The study showed a significant decline in the number of fast-swimming, pelagic sharks, suggesting these species have been particularly hard-hit by human activities.

Another study by Erin Dillon and colleagues, published under journal article #2020-17735, also points to a severe decrease in Caribbean shark abundance due to human activity. Erin M. Dillon from the University of California, Santa Barbara can be contacted at the phone number 650-776-0095 or by email for further information.

The findings of these studies underscore the need for conservation efforts in the Caribbean and other regions. The authors of the studies suggest that further research into historical dermal denticle assemblages can help us understand the impacts of human exploitation on shark communities over time, and guide future conservation strategies.