How has the number of threatened shark and ray species changed in Malaysia since 2014?

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The number of threatened shark and ray species in Malaysia has doubled since 2014.

New research indicates a significant increase in the number of threatened shark and ray species within Malaysian waters over the past decade. Specifically, the count of species facing threats has doubled since 2014, with a more pronounced escalation observed in the categories of endangered or critically endangered species, which have more than tripled in number during the same period.
Escalation of Endangered and Critically Endangered Species

Beyond the overall doubling of threatened species, the situation for the most vulnerable shark and ray populations has worsened considerably. The number of species classified as either endangered or critically endangered has seen a more than threefold increase since 2014, signifying a critical decline in the status of these specific groups.
Research Methodology and Findings

These alarming trends are underscored by comprehensive research, including Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys (BRUVS) and fisheries landing surveys conducted by WWF-Malaysia and its partners. These efforts, part of the global FinPrint Phase 2 Survey, have collected over 500 hours of underwater footage and analysed catches from fish markets. Previous assessments had already identified Malaysia as having low recorded abundance of reef predators, with some sites in Sabah showing no shark presence.
Implications of Juvenile Catches

Further analysis of catch landing data reveals that a substantial proportion of sharks and rays landed are juveniles, not yet having reached reproductive age. With many species requiring 12 to 15 years to mature, the capture of these young animals poses a severe threat to the long-term recovery and sustainability of shark and ray populations.

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How has the number of threatened shark and ray species changed in Malaysia since 2014?

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