Namibia Races to Protect 87 Shark and Ray Species

Scientists are diving deep into Namibian waters to save sharks and rays that keep ocean ecosystems alive.

Namibia is home to 87 cartilaginous fish species, including 52 sharks, 27 skates and rays, and eight chimaeras. But 29 of these species are already threatened with extinction, and researchers worry some could vanish before we fully understand their role in ocean health.

These creatures aren't just swimming through our oceans. They're maintaining the delicate balance that keeps fish populations strong and helps regulate climate change.

The Namibia Nature Foundation is leading the charge with the Blue Benguela Partnership, planning underwater camera surveys and tracking programs. One exciting project will tag Bronze Whaler sharks caught by recreational anglers, revealing their migration patterns between Namibia and Angola for the first time since 2007.

Early research already uncovered that Bronze Whalers use Baia dos Tigres in southern Angola as a nursery where young sharks grow safely. The Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area became a testing ground for acoustic tags and cameras, though scientists say much more work is needed.

The research couldn't come at a better time. Commercial fishing fleets are believed to be severely underreporting shark bycatch, and legal protections remain limited mostly to Great White sharks.

The Ripple Effect

When sharks and rays disappear, entire ocean ecosystems can collapse. These predators keep fish populations healthy and balanced, which directly affects the catches that coastal communities depend on for food and income.

The conservation team recently published a shark and ray identification guide to help fishermen, anglers, and coastal residents recognize these vital species. Understanding what lives in Namibian waters is the first step toward protecting it.

Limited funding and Namibia's remote, harsh coastline make research challenging. Most studies have focused on sharks while rays, skates, and chimaeras remain mysteries waiting to be solved.

Damian Schreiber, a researcher at Ocean Conservation Namibia, emphasizes the urgency. "If these species decline, the balance of the marine environment can be disrupted, potentially leading to lower fish catches in future," he explains.

The Save Our Seas Foundation is considering funding the Bronze Whaler tagging project, which could unlock secrets about how these sharks travel and what they need to survive. Every three years, researchers plan to conduct new surveys, building a knowledge base that doesn't currently exist.

What started as a handful of small studies is growing into a comprehensive conservation effort that could save species before they're lost forever.