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While ISRAs themselves do not confer legal protection, they establish a globally consistent scientific foundation that countries can use to meet international commitments under CMS, the Sharks Memorandum of Understanding, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Rima Jabado, Deputy Chair of the IUCN SSC and Chair of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, said: “ISRAs spotlight the places where conservation action will have the greatest impact. This is the first time such a globally coordinated mapping effort has been undertaken for sharks and rays.
“It reveals, with unprecedented clarity, where species reproduce, feed, travel, and take refuge – and gives governments the science they need to safeguard these habitats before it is too late.”
The report’s case studies paint a vivid picture of the ocean’s hidden connectivity: migratory corridors stretching between South Africa and Mozambique; productivity-rich upwelling systems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific; culturally important shark and ray aggregations in the Pacific Islands; and distinctive movement patterns in far-flung archipelagos such as French Polynesia.
Yet many of these vital habitats overlap with some of the ocean’s busiest and most heavily exploited regions, including industrial fishing grounds, shipping lanes and offshore development zones. The findings underscore the urgent need to align ocean-use decisions with the best available biodiversity science.
Amy Frankel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), a legally binding treaty of the United Nations, noted that: “Migratory sharks and rays depend on healthy, connected ocean habitats. ISRAs give governments and stakeholders a powerful tool: a clear map of important habitats, conservation of which international collaboration is essential. This work strengthens the scientific backbone of CMS and will help governments translate commitments into concrete actions both within national waters and on the high seas.”
Climate change is adding another layer of urgency. As ocean temperatures rise, currents shift and migration cues are disrupted, many species are being pushed into new areas, sometimes with little protection. The report highlights how ISRAs can also help identify future refuges and resilience hotspots, supporting climate-adapted conservation strategies.
All of the mapped areas are now freely available through the ISRA e-Atlas, an interactive online platform designed to make the data accessible to policymakers, scientists, journalists and the wider public.
