STATUS OF THE WORLD’S MARINE SPECIES

Beth A. Polidoro, Suzanne R. Livingstone, Kent E. Carpenter, Brian Hutchinson, Roderic B. Mast, Nicolas Pilcher, Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson, Sarah Valenti

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Acknowledgements: This publication is part of The 2008 Review of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List is compiled and produced by the IUCN Species Programme based on contributions from a network of thousands of scientifi c experts around the world. These include members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups, Red List Partners (currently Conservation International, BirdLife International, NatureServe and the Zoological Society of London), and many others including experts from universities, museums, research institutes and non-governmental organizations. The long list of people, partners and donors who made this review possible can be found at the following address: www.iucn.org/redlist/

Citation: Polidoro, B.A., Livingstone, S.R., Carpenter, K.E., Hutchinson, B., Mast, R.B., Pilcher, N., Sadovy de Mitcheson, Y. and Valenti, S. 2008. Status of the world’s marine species. In: J.-C. Vié, C., Hilton-Taylor, and S.N. Stuart (eds.). The 2008 Review of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland. Switzerland.

Credits:

Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland

Chief Editor: Jean-Christophe Vié

Editors: Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart

ISBN (The 2008 Review of The IUCN Red List of Threatened): 978-2-8317-1063-1

Layout: Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain

© 2008 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Cover photo: The loss of coral reef ecosystems will have devasting effects on a wide spectrum of marine species, as well as for people and nations that depend on reef resources for their livelihoods and economic security. © Jean-Christophe Vié Status of the World’s Marine Species

Beth A. Polidoro, Suzanne R. Livingstone, Kent E. Carpenter, Brian Hutchinson, Roderic B. Mast, Nicolas Pilcher, Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson, Sarah Valenti

Introduction their probability of extinction lagged far against the IUCN Red List Categories and The oceans are home to a large behind that of the terrestrial realm; out Criteria. As of 2008, six major groups of percentage of Earth’s biodiversity, of more than 41,500 plants and animals marine species have been completed, and occupying 70 percent of its surface and, currently assessed under the IUCN Red include all the world’s known species of when volume is considered, an even larger List Criteria, only approximately 1,500 were sharks and rays, groupers, reef-building percentage of habitable space. The oceans marine species. In many regions around corals, seabirds, marine mammals, and drive weather, shape planetary chemistry, the world, biodiversity conservation in the marine turtles (Figure 1). generate 70 percent of atmospheric seas is currently taking place without the oxygen, absorb most of the planet’s carbon essential species-specifi c data needed Sharks and their relatives dioxide, and are the ultimate reservoir to inform robust and comprehensive Of the 1,046 species of sharks and for replenishment of fresh water to land conservation actions. their relatives (class Chondrichthyes), a through cloud formation. Trouble for the high proportion (47%) are listed as Data oceans means trouble for humankind. Protection of our rapidly declining ocean ecosystems and species is one of the In recent years, there has been growing greatest challenges we face as stewards concern in the scientifi c community that a of our planet. In 2006, IUCN, Conservation Figure 1. Summary of 2008 Red List Categories for completed clades of marine species. Number of broad range of marine species could be International and Old Dominion University species assessed in each group in parentheses. under threat of extinction and that marine joined forces to address this gap % of biodiversity is experiencing potentially and initiated an ambitious project (the species irreversible loss due to over-fi shing, climate Global Marine Species Assessment) to 100% change, invasive species and coastal complete IUCN Red List assessments development (Dulvy et al. 2003; Roberts for a greatly expanded number of marine 80% and Hawkins 1999). Governmental and species. It is planned to complete Red public interest in marine conservation is List assessments for over 20,000 marine increasing, but the information needed to species by 2012. A great deal of progress 60% guide marine conservation planning and has already been made, and approximately policy is seriously defi cient. The IUCN 1,500 marine species have been added Red List of Threatened Species™ is the to the 2008 Red List, including all of the 40% most commonly used global dataset world’s known species of sharks and rays, for identifying the types of threat, and groupers, and reef-building corals. These 20% the levels of extinction risk to marine groups were completed in collaboration species (Hoffmann et al. 2008; Rodrigues with a number of Red List Partners et al. 2006). It forms the foundation including the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist 0% for determining and validating marine Group, the IUCN SSC Grouper and

Corals(845) (161) (349) conservation priorities, for example Wrasse Specialist Group, the IUCN SSC Seabirds (7) Groupers

(134) Marine turtles through the planning and management Marine Turtle Specialist Group. (1046) of protected area systems designed to Marine mammals Sharks and relatives reduce extinction risk in the sea (Edgar Results EX LC et al. 2008). However, as of 2007, the For the fi rst time, every species in selected CR/EN/VU DD NT number of marine species assessed for taxonomic groups is being assessed

1 response to increasing demand for shark snouts (or saws) edged with tooth-like products and as traditional fi sheries serrations. This saw makes them extremely come under stronger management. susceptible to bycatch in almost any Millions of sharks are caught each year fi shing gear and they are also targeted for for their fi ns which are used to make the their very high value saws and fi ns. The 21 Asian delicacy shark fi n soup. Sharks species of angel sharks face similar threats are being increasingly targeted for this and are among the most threatened purpose. Mortality from accidental catch families of sharks. Of the species of angel (or ‘bycatch’) in fi sheries targeting other sharks with suffi cient data for assessment, species is just as much of a threat, if not 78% are threatened and 21% are Critically more so, for many species. Populations Endangered. of intrinsically threatened sharks can be driven to collapse un-noticed, whilst Endemic sharks and rays with restricted fi sheries continue to be supported habitats and geographic distributions economically by more productive and also feature prominently among those plentiful target species, such as bony most threatened. The endemic Brazilian fi shes, crustaceans and squid. The life Guitarfi sh Rhinobatos horkelii, Maltese history characteristics of these species Skate Leucoraja melitensis and Harrison’s demand a precautionary approach to their Dogfi sh Centrophorus harrissoni are all exploitation; however, the lack of adequate listed as Critically Endangered. All have shark fi sheries management remains an undergone signifi cant population declines over-whelming problem, exacerbated by as a result of bycatch and target fi sheries. largely unreported catches. Historically Although unsustainable exploitation Millions of sharks are caught each year for their fi ns, fi sheries managers have given sharks appears to be the greatest threat to most which are used to make the Asian delicacy shark fi n low priority, but they are now receiving sharks globally, endemic species with soup. © John Nightingale increasing international attention with specifi c habitat preferences are also growing concerns over the sustainability of threatened by localized habitat degradation shark fi sheries. and destruction. For example, several Defi cient compared to the fi ve other inshore stingrays endemic to areas of marine groups shown. As many sharks Some species are affected by a Southeast Asia are being impacted by and rays are deep-water pelagic species, combination of all these factors. For large-scale degradation and removal of they are harder to study in the wild, and example, all seven species of sawfi sh are mangroves, acting in combination with less is known about their ecology and listed as Critically Endangered. These large threats from fi sheries activities. population status, including the impact unusual rays (sometimes in excess of 7 m of known and potentially unknown major long) are slow-growing, and populations Many wide-ranging oceanic species are threats. Approximately 17% of shark and are often isolated, with little migration also threatened. Both the Short-fi n Mako ray species are in threatened categories between areas. They have long fl attened Isurus oxyrinchus and the Long-fi n Mako (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable), and 13% are considered Near Threatened and may reach the thresholds for a threatened category in the near future if current threats are not reduced.

Much of what is currently known about sharks and rays comes from their capture in nets from both targeted and accidental catch, which is the primary threat to this species group. Sharks grow slowly, mature late, produce few young and have low rates of population increase, making them highly vulnerable to depletion with a low capacity for recovery from over-exploitation. Shark fi sheries have proliferated around the world during recent decades, in

The wide-ranging Short-fi n Mako Isurus oxyrinchus is listed as Vulnerable. © Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch

2 The Square-tailed Coral Grouper Plectropomus areolatus is listed as Vulnerable. It is heavily targeted for the live reef fi sh food trade. © J.E. Randall

Isurus paucus, as well as the 3 species international levels. This will be done fi rstly, At least 12.4% of the world’s 161 grouper of thresher sharks (family Alopiidae) and through the wide dissemination of the species are now listed in threatened the Porbeagle Shark Lamna nasus are results from this fi rst complete assessment categories (Critically Endangered, all classifi ed as Vulnerable, with some for the IUCN Red List, which can be Endangered, or Vulnerable), another subpopulations of these species at even used to inform decision makers; and 14% are Near Threatened, and 30% are greater risk. Oceanic sharks are taken in secondly by continuing to advise on the considered to be Data Defi cient. Given large numbers in international waters. It is development and implementation of Shark their long life span, with some species clear that wide-ranging, highly migratory Plans and the application of conservation living up to 40 years, and late sexual sharks need international precautionary instruments such as the Convention maturation combined with specializations collaborative management, but very on Migratory Species (CMS) and the such as adult sex change (‘protogyny’) few countries have set catch limits for Convention on Trade in Endangered and aggregation-spawning, groupers sharks and there are none in place on Species (CITES). are very vulnerable to fi shing pressure the High Seas. The Food and Agricultural and over-exploitation. In particular, major Organization of the United Nations has Groupers threats from over-fi shing include targeting urged countries and regional fi shing Groupers (family Serranidae) are found in of spawning aggregations and uncontrolled bodies to develop and adopt Shark rocky and coral reefs of the tropics and fi shing throughout the entire range of the Management Plans, but only few have sub-tropics around the world, and are also species on multiple life history phases, from done so to date. The adoption of fi nning subject to threats from over-exploitation small juveniles to adults. For example, in bans by fi shing states, regional bodies from fi shing, especially for the live fi sh Southeast Asia juveniles are sometimes the and fi sheries organizations is accelerating, trade, given their high commercial value. major fi shery target, as they are taken at which should increasingly prevent the According to the Food and Agriculture sub-market size and grown-out in captivity fi shing of sharks for their fi ns alone, but Organization, about 250 thousand tonnes (a practice often referred to as mariculture) further coordinated measures are needed. of groupers are harvested annually, with until they reach a larger market size. As for A major obstacle to the formulation and 80% from Asia. In 1996, when the fi rst other marine fi shes, the most susceptible implementation of management measures Red List assessments were conducted groupers to these threats are generally is the lack of data on a large proportion of on commercially important marine fi shes, the longest-lived and largest species. species. Catches are largely unreported the groupers emerged as a particularly In some cases, little is known about the in many areas and improved monitoring vulnerable group of fi shes. Completion species biology or impact of fi shing on its systems are needed. and updating of all 161 grouper Red List population, including several species of assessments has been ongoing since considerable economic importance that are The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group then, and was fi nalized in February 2007 traded for the live seafood restaurant trade will continue to raise awareness about the at a workshop organized and held in Hong in Southeast Asia and are widely sourced plight of sharks and promote their effective Kong by the IUCN SSC Grouper and in the Indian and Pacifi c Oceans. As a management at national, regional and Wrasse Specialist Group. consequence, many populations are likely

3 Southern Elephant Seal pup Mirounga leonina. The species is listed as Least Concern, as many populations are considered to be stable. However, the effects of climate change and the development of new fi sheries could have a signifi cant impact on their populations in the future. © Jean-Christophe Vié

to be biologically over-fi shed, some of them relatives as the Camoufl age Grouper become sexually mature and spawning very seriously, and several of these species Epinephelus polyphekadion, are examples in aggregations, this species has proven are also considered to be threatened with of Indo-Pacifi c groupers that form part of biologically unable to withstand decades extinction unless action is taken. the live reef food fi sh trade (LRFFT) and of heavy and uncontrolled fi shing and is are taken in massive numbers from their severely reduced throughout most of its The Square-tailed Coral Grouper spawning aggregations and maintained range. Regional discussions are now being Plectropomus areolatus, along with such alive during shipment to Hong Kong, the conducted to seek proper protection of the global trade centre for live marine fi sh. The species and to introduce much-needed demand for live fi sh for the luxury restaurant monitoring and management measures. trade in China is massive and expected to More than anything, a greater awareness is

35% grow in tandem with increasing wealth in needed on the plight of this species. the region. As much as 20% of groupers landed globally are destined for the The objectives of the IUCN SSC Grouper 17% LRFFT. However, the populations of many and Wrasse Specialist Group’s work, preferred groupers are limited and already after determining the conservation status beginning to show the strain in some areas, of each grouper species, is to focus on <1% with several species in the trade now those species that are most threatened, 3% listed in threatened categories or as Near address major threatening factors, fi ll gaps Threatened. in information and raise awareness of the problems these species face. In addition In the tropical western Atlantic, the Nassau to Red List assessments, ongoing projects 21% 24% Grouper Epinephelus striatus, once the provide support and information to enable most important of all groupers in the spawning aggregations to be managed landings of Caribbean islands, is now and considered in protected marine area considered Endangered. Living for several planning, and seek sustainable practices CR decades and taking about fi ve years to in the LRFFT and grouper mariculture in EN Southeast Asia. The need for regional as VU opposed to national-level management and NT Figure 2. Summary of 2008 Red List Categories for conservation initiatives for groupers should LC all 845 species of reef-building corals. Including Data be highlighted, as many grouper species DD Defi cient species, approximately 27% of species are in threatened Categories, primarily due to climate are highly mobile as adults and all have a change and anthropogenic impacts. widely dispersive pelagic larval phase.

4 Corals The world’s known 845 species of reef- building zooxanthellate corals (order Scleractinia plus the families Helioporidae, Tubiporidae, and Milleporidae) have also been assessed for the fi rst time (Carpenter et al. 2008).These reef-building corals are essential habitat for many species of fi sh and invertebrates making them the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the ocean. More than one-quarter of these corals (27%) have been listed in threatened categories, representing an elevated risk of extinction (Figure 2). Over 20% of species are listed as Near Threatened, and are expected to join a threatened category in the near future. Although approximately Figure 3. Global distribution of threatened reef-building coral species. 17% of reef-building corals are listed as Data Defi cient, more than half of these are in the family Acroporidae, which is characterized by species with high will have huge cascading effects for reef- Zalophus japonicus, and the Caribbean susceptibility to bleaching and disease. dependent species, and on the large Monk Seal Monachus tropicalis, both Primary threats to these reef-building number of people and nations that depend primarily due to intensive persecution. corals are increased frequency and on coral reef resources for economic and duration of bleaching and disease events food security. Seabirds that have been linked to the increase in With less than 1% of species listed as Data sea temperatures, a symptom of global Marine mammals Defi cient, seabirds (class Aves) are one of climate change. The impacts of these Marine mammals represent a diverse the best known groups of marine species. oceanographic environmental changes group of species and include whales, However, almost one-third of these are also compounded by anthropogenic dolphins, porpoises (order Cetartiodactyla), species (27.5%) are threatened, and four threats including coastal development, seals (family Phocidae), Sea Otter (family coral extraction, sedimentation and Mustelidae), Polar Bear (family Ursidae), pollution. A further sinister threat to Walrus (family Odobenidae), manatees and The loss of coral ecosystems will have devastating the Dugong (order Sirenia). Almost 35% of impacts on the survival of reef-dependent marine corals is ocean acidifi cation as a result of species. © Jan Schipper increasing levels of atmospheric carbon marine mammal species are listed as Data dioxide. This is reducing ocean carbonate Defi cient, most of which are Cetaceans ion concentrations and the ability of corals that are mainly known from individuals to build skeletons. that have been stranded on beaches, or have been captured in fi shing nets. One- Globally, the Indo-Malay-Philippine quarter of marine mammal species are Archipelago or the “Coral Triangle” has the in threatened categories. Major threats highest number of species in threatened to these species include entanglement categories (Figure 3). This region is also in fi shing gear, directed harvesting, the known as the epicenter of marine biodiversity, effects of noise pollution from military and has the highest coral species richness. and seismic sonar, and boat strikes. In Coral reefs in the Caribbean region have many regions, marine mammals are also been impacted by recent, rapid population threatened by water pollution, habitat loss declines of two key species: Staghorn Coral from coastal development, loss of prey or Acropora cervicornis and Elkhorn Coral other food sources due to poor fi sheries Acropora palmata, both of which have been management, and intensive hunting both listed as Critically Endangered. Although they historically and in place today. The Polar have been impacted by localized warming Bear Ursus maritimus currently listed as events, coastal development, and other Vulnerable, is primarily threatened by human activities, coral reefs in the South the accelerated loss of habitat and food and Eastern Pacifi c have lower numbers resources that have been associated with of threatened species, but have relatively climate change as large tracts of ice within higher levels of endemism in some areas the Arctic zone are rapidly disappearing. such as the Hawaiian Islands. In any region, Two marine mammals have gone extinct in the potential loss of these coral ecosystems the past 50 years, the Japanese Sea Lion

5 Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus at Punta Tumbo (Argentina). This colony has decreased by nearly 30% since 1987. The species is globally listed as Near Threatened. © Jean-Christophe Vié

species have gone Extinct in the past 500 fi sheries, compounded by low fl edging of extinction. In addition, global climate years. Major threats to seabirds include success caused by predation of chicks by change is now considered to be a serious, mortality in long-line fi sheries and gill- introduced mice. if not entirely understood threat. nets, oil spills, and the impact of invasive alien species (in particular predation by Marine turtles Given their long generation times, global rodents and cats) at the breeding colonies. As of 2008, six of the seven species distributions, and the paucity of long-term Additional threats to breeding sites of of marine turtle (Order Testudines) are data, assessing the risk of extinction for seabirds are habitat loss and degradation listed in threatened categories. Only the marine turtle species is challenging. In from coastal development, logging and Flatback Natator depressus is currently light of these complexities, the IUCN SSC pollution. In many cases, seabirds are listed as Data Defi cient, as there has been Marine Turtle Specialist Group has pledged subjected to a number of these different insuffi cient data in the past to apply the to complete global assessments for every threats at the same time. The Critically criteria. Threats to marine turtles occur species as one of its principle outcomes, Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffi nus at all stages of their life cycle. Marine and to renew them every fi ve years to mauretanicus for example, only breeds turtles lay their eggs on beaches, which refl ect improved data and new thinking on in the Balearic Islands, Spain, where it is are subject to threats such as coastal how to apply the IUCN Red List Criteria threatened by predation by introduced development and sand mining. The eggs most effectively. An Assessment Steering cats and rats, incidental capture in and hatchlings are threatened by pollution Committee (ASC) was established in 2006 long-line fi sheries, loss of habitat from and predation by introduced predators to take on an ambitious plan for completing urbanization and coastal development, such as pigs and dogs, and eggs are this mandate. Since the birth of the ASC, and water pollution from high hydrocarbon collected by humans for food in many two species have been re-assessed. A and mercury levels in nearby areas. parts of the world. Once at sea, marine status of Vulnerable for the Olive Ridley Albatrosses belong to one of the most turtles are faced with threats from targeted Lepidochelys olivacea has been approved threatened families of birds with 86% (19 capture in small-scale subsistence at the end of a long process that included species) facing extinction. Among these, fi sheries, bycatch largely by long-line and responding to a 2006 petition against the the Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena trawling activities, entanglement in marine former Endangered listing. The assessment was uplisted to Critically Endangered in debris, and boat strikes. Their life history for the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata 2008 owing to its extremely small breeding characteristics of being long-lived, late was approved in May, 2008 with a status of range and a projected population decline. to mature and with a long juvenile stage, Critically Endangered. A draft assessment Modeled population declines of at least combined with the many threats from for the currently Data Defi cient Flatback 80% over three generations (70 years) are human activities in the sea and on land Natator depressus is currently under review a consequence of very low adult survival that affect at all stages of their life cycle by the ASC, and will be included on the owing to incidental mortality in longline are among the reasons for their high risk 2009 Red List. Updated assessments for

6 the Loggerhead Caretta caretta, currently managing and disseminating information listed as Endangered, the Leatherback on marine turtle abundance and Dermochelys coriacea, currently listed as conservation status. 200 Critically Endangered, and the Kemp’s Ridley Lepidochelys kempii, currently listed Key Messages as Critically Endangered, are forthcoming. • The preservation and protection of our 150 The Green Turtle Chelonia mydas ocean resources, not only for the marine assessment of Endangered was accepted species they contain, but also for the by the IUCN in 2004, and will be up for food, products, and ecosystem services 100 review again in 2009. that they provide for billions of people around the globe needs to become an

Number of species Members of the IUCN SSC Marine Turtle urgent priority. Many of the threats listed Specialist Group are also discussing the for marine species are overlapping. 50 potential for regional-scale assessments, The development of sustainable as has been done with other taxonomic fi sheries, including the elimination of groups like sharks, and have recently harmful fi shing or harvesting practices, 0 Fish Molluscs Seaweeds Echinoderms completed regional assessments for the enforcement of current fi shery (204) (99) (75) (1) Mediterranean and Hawaiian Islands regulations, and implementation of turtles. The IUCN SSC Marine Turtle improved fi shery technology, are EX CR/EN/VU Specialist Group also continues to pioneer essential for reducing the extinction NT new methods for fi ner scale conservation risks for marine species. Similarly, more LC DD priority setting for marine turtles through attention needs to be aimed at reducing regular meetings that since 2003 have pollution and destructive development generated a number of useful priority of coastal areas. The need to slow Figure 4. Summary of 2008 Red List Categories for setting tools including the Hazards List or reverse global climate change is uncompleted clades of marine species. Number of of the anthropogenic pressures that becoming more important to protect species assessed in each group in parentheses. prevent marine turtle recovery; a Top our planet’s resources and quality of Ten List of most threatened marine turtle life, not only for the survival of the plants populations worldwide; and a list of the and animals living in the ocean, but for that the loss of biodiversity in the oceans Unsolved Mysteries of Marine Turtles or those that live on land or in freshwater is taking place at a similar rate to that of great unknowns that answers to which as well. The continued assessment of terrestrial areas. Climate change, in fact, will vastly improve the ability to conserve the status of marine species is essential may prove to have a more serious affect marine turtles. The IUCN SSC Marine for monitoring the impact of threats to on marine species than those on land. Turtle Specialist Group is also a founding the ocean’s health and survival. It is member of the State of the World’s only in the last 20 years that scientists • However, the conservation status of Marine Turtles Initiative (SWOT), a network have begun to worry seriously about the the vast majority of marine species has of global-scale date providers that is effects that human activities have on the not yet been investigated on a global perfecting a mechanism for collecting, marine realm, and they are discovering scale. Other than the completed groups described here, there are fewer than 400 other marine species that have been assessed for The IUCN Red List (Figure 4). Of these, approximately 200 are marine fi shes, 100 are marine molluscs, and 75 are seaweeds. Only one species of echinoderm, the edible European Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus has been assessed, although in many parts of the world there have been huge declines in population for commercially important echinoderms such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins. The marine species that have been assessed so far are

The Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffi nus mauretanicus only breeds in the Balearic Islands, Spain where it is threatened by predation by introduced cats and rats, incidental capture in long-line fi sheries, loss of habitat from urbanization and coastal development, and water pollution. © Ben Lascelles / BirdLife

7 The Sulawesi Coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis: A Living Fossil

A new addition to the 2008 Red List is the Sulawesi Coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis. Coelacanths are considered to be “living fossils,” as they were thought to be extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period, until a specimen was found off the coast of South Africa in 1938. The Sulawesi Coelacanth was fi rst recorded in 1997 when it was captured off the coast of Manado, Indonesia in the Sulawesi Sea. It is a relative of the Critically Endangered African Coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae which occurs in the Indian Ocean, and is known from Grand Comoro and Anjouan islands, the coast of South Africa, Madagascar, and Mozambique. Although the two Coelacanths from the two regions are outwardly identical, genetics show that they are actually separate species. The Sulawesi Coelacanth is only currently known from three locations and a small number of specimens, the most recent being caught in May 2007. Although the population status and trends of this species is unknown, it is believed to be a naturally small population. The Coelacanth in both regions live in caves and rocky slopes between 150 and 200 meters deep, is rarely captured, and very diffi cult to observe in its natural habitat.

Not much is specifi cally known about the biology and ecology of the Sulawesi Coelacanth, but what is known suggests that its life history traits are similar to the African coelacanth. Coelacanths are at high risk for extinction when subjected to threats because they are slow- growing and late to mature, and long-lived. They also typically produce a small number of eggs at one time. The Sulawesi Coelacanth that was caught in May 2007 in Bunaken National Marine Park was a pregnant female and had a number The Sulawesi Coelacanth lives in deep-water caves and rocky slopes, and is only known from a few locations of large, orange-sized eggs. These large eggs along the northern Sulawesi coast, Indonesia. are thought to hatch within the oviduct before the female gives birth to live young. Scientists in Indonesia, France and Japan are currently history, predicted small population size, and has ever been successfully kept alive for this conducting research to better understand their susceptibility to several threats, including purpose. The African Coelacanth assessment reproductive biology. capture as bycatch in deep shark nets, and by is in need of updating due to new information hook and line fi sheries that target deepwater since the last assessment made in 2000. Although the Sulawesi Coelacanth is poorly snapper. The Coelacanth is also sought after for known, it is listed as Vulnerable given its life large aquarium display, although no specimen As awareness of the Sulawesi Coelacanth is increasing, more information is being collected about these mysterious fi sh. Now that the fi shermen know that these fi sh are unique, there is a better chance of a catch being reported, and specimens being kept for further investigation. Better reporting may also give more insight into the size of the population, and the effects that bycatch may be having on the population of the Sulawesi Coelacanth. This Coelacanth is currently protected locally by Indonesian fi shing regulations, and also internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES Appendix I).

The Sulawesi Coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis is considered a “living fossil,” and has recently been added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable. © Mark Erdmann

8 Dulvy, N.K., Sadovy, Y. and Reynolds, J.D. very unlikely to be representative of the (such as starfi shes, sea urchins and 2003. Extinction and vulnerability in marine overall risk of extinction in the marine sea cucumbers) will also be assessed. populations. Fish and Fisheries 4: 25-64. environment, as they have not been It is the largest effort to compile marine Edgar, G.J., Banks, S., Bensted-Smith, R., done in any systematic way. Completing species threat data ever attempted, Calvopiña, M., Chiriboga, A., Garske, L.E., entire groups of species gives a much and will provide essential information for Henderson, S., Miller, K.A. and Salazar, S. 2008. Conservation of threatened species clearer view of the status of marine the protection and conservation of the in the Galapagos Marine Reserve through species. world’s vital marine resources. identifi cation and protection of marine Key Biodiversity Areas. Aquatic Conservation: • To address the marine gap on the References Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems doi: Red List, plans to compile data on Carpenter, K.E., Abrar, M., Aeby, G., Aronson, 10.1002/aqc. Hoffmann, M., Brooks, T.M., da Fonseca, geographic distributions, ecology, R.B., Banks, S., Bruckner, A., Chiriboga, A., Cortés, J., Delbeek, J.C., DeVantier, G.A.B., Gascon, C., Hawkins, A.F.A., James, population numbers and trends, and L., Edgar, G.J., Edwards, A.J., Fenner, D., R.E., Langhammer, P., Mittermeier, R.A., threats for the world’s marine species are Guzmán, H.M., Hoeksema, B.W., Hodgson, Pilgrim, J.D., Rodrigues, A.S.L. and Silva, well underway. Priority groups include G., Johan, O., Licuanan, W.Y., Livingstone, J.M.C. 2008. Conservation planning and all marine vertebrates (approximately S.R., Lovell, E.R., Moore, J.A., Obura, D.O., the IUCN Red List. Endangered Species Research doi: 10.3354/esr00087. 15,000 marine fi shes and reptiles), as Ochavillo, D. Polidoro, B.A., Precht, W.F., Quibilan, M.C., Reboton, C., Richards, Z.T., Roberts, C.M. and Hawkins, J.P. 1999. well as important habitat-forming primary Rogers, A.D., Sanciangco, J., Sheppard, A., Extinction risk in the sea. Trends in Ecology producers such as the remaining corals, Sheppard, C., Smith, J., Stuart, S., Turak, and Evolution 14: 241-246. mangroves, seagrasses and certain E., Veron, J.E.N., Wallace, C., Weil, E. and Rodrigues, A.S.L., Pilgrim, J.D., Lamoreux, J.F., seaweeds. The conservation status of Wood, E. 2008. One-third of reef-building Hoffmann, M. and Brooks, T.M. 2006. The value of the IUCN Red List for conservation. species in several important invertebrate corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science Trends in Ecology and Evolution 21: 71-76. groups such as gastropod molluscs, 321: 560-563. bivalve molluscs and echinoderms

Newly hatched Leatherback Turtles Dermochelys coriacea that survive predation and pollution on their way to the sea will then face a myriad of other threats, including capture in fi sheries, entanglement in marine debris, and boat strikes. The Leatherback Turtle is listed as Critically Endangered. © Suzanne Livingstone

9 IUCN Rue Mauverney 28 CH-1196 Gland Switzerland Tel: +41 22 999 0000 Fax: +41 22 999 0015 www.iucn.org/redlist www.iucnredlist.org