Squatina argentina, argentine angelshark

The Argentine Angelshark (Squatina argentina) is a small (to 138 cm total length) demersal shark species that occurs in waters in the Southwest Atlantic from Santa Catarina, Brazil, south to Buenos Aires, Argentina. This species inhabits sandy substrates at depths of 51-320 m. The species has a relatively slow life history, giving birth to 7-11 pups with a biennial or possibly triennial reproductive cycle. The Argentine Angelshark is targeted and/or caught as bycatch in demersal trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries, and is sold and utilized for human consumption (although angel sharks are protected in Brazil). Angel sharks are notoriously difficult to identify, and catches are typically reported at the generic level and therefore include at least three species that are native to the region (the Argentine Angelshark, the Hidden Angelshark (S. occulta), and the Angular Angelshark (S. guggenheim)). Declines in CPUE during research trawls in southern Brazil indicate that the population declined substantially in the mid-late 1990s. Further research data corroborates this, indicating the equivalent of a reduction of more than 90% over three generation lengths (46.5 years). There is also heavy fishing pressure in Uruguay and Argentina, where the Argentine Angelshark is caught alongside the Hidden Angelshark and the Angular Angelshark. Landings data indicate a reduction of angel sharks in the Argentinean-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone of over 70% over three generations, and datasets further south in Argentina indicate a reduction of over 90% over a similar timeframe (although these landings likely consist mostly of Angular Angelshark). Due to heavy fishing pressure across its range, reported declines in landings and research surveys, and the species' low productivity, it is inferred that this species has undergone, on balance, a population reduction of at least 80% over the past three generations (46.5 years). Therefore, the Argentine Angelshark is listed as Critically Endangered A2bd. Strict regulations for limits to fisheries catch are needed, as is the identification and protection of critical habitat.Fil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Awruch, Cynthia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Squatina occulta, Hidden Angelshark

The Hidden Angelshark (Squatina occulta) is a medium-sized shark (to 160 cm total length) endemic to the Southwest Atlantic inhabiting waters from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Buenos Aires Province, Argentina and likely further south to the northern Patagonia-Argentine region. It is mainly found on the continental shelf at depths of 10-150 m, but has been found at depths to 350 m. The species' low reproductive potential (litter size of 4-10 and a possible three-to-five-year female breeding cycle) together with its susceptibility to capture in both trawl and gillnet gear makes it highly susceptible to population depletion. Angel sharks are heavily fished in southern Brazil and significant reductions have been documented there. In the period from 1988 to 2002, on the continental shelf of southern Brazil, the abundance of Squatina species was reduced by approximately 85%, and benthic trawl fishing continued to intensively exploit this population in more recent years. In the same region, scientific fishing cruises conducted between 1986 to 2001 using bottom trawls revealed that the frequency of occurrence and CPUE (in kg/hour and number of individuals/hour) of this species was reduced by 80% confirming trends observed in commercial fisheries. In Argentina, trawl catches of Squatina underwent a reduction of 58% in the years 1992-1998, showing a continuing negative trend since then. These are the equivalent of a >99% reduction over three generation lengths (46.5 years), however there may be other areas within its range where fishing intensity is not as high. The catch and trade of this species has been banned in Brazil since 2004, but it is still targeted illegally and caught as bycatch and sold in markets. Given the species' relatively low productivity, the presence of intensive fisheries throughout the species' range, and the level of localized reductions reported, the Hidden Angelshark is inferred to have undergone a population reduction of over 80% over three generation lengths (46.5 years) across its range, and is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered A2bd.Fil: Awruch, C. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Atlantoraja cyclophora, Eyespot Skate

The Eyespot Skate (Atlantoraja cyclophora) is a small (to 74 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to San Matías Gulf, Argentina. It inhabits the continental shelf from inshore to 100 m depth, and occasionally to 320 m. It is captured in intensive and largely unmanaged demersal trawl fisheries which operate throughout its geographic and depth range. In southern Brazil there are no time-series of abundance, but fisheries there are intense and it is suspected that they are leading to population reduction. In Uruguay, research trawl catch-per-uniteffort of this species declined 82% from 1,910 kg/hr in 2004–2013 to 343 kg/hr from 2013 to 2017, equivalent to a >95% population reduction scaled over three generations (40.5 years). In the Rio del Plata Estuary, the landings of coastal rays including this species was low until the mid-1990s, but increased retention led to substantial increases in landings which peaked in 2008, followed by a decline. In Argentina, reported landings of skates in general increased from 900 t in 1993 to a peak of 28,000 t in 2007, and then declined to 24,000 t in 2009–2010. Overall, due to intense and increasing fishing pressure across its range, decreasing abundance, and its relatively slow life history, it is suspected that the Eyespot Skate has undergone a population reduction of 50–79% over the past three generations (40.5 years), and it is assessed as Endangered A2bd.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Montealegre Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; Urugua

Atlantoraja castelnaui, Spotback Skate

The Spotback Skate (Atlantoraja castelnaui) is a medium-sized (to 147 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It inhabits the continental shelf and upper slope from inshore to 300 m depth. It is captured in intense and largely unmanaged demersal trawl fisheries throughout its geographic range. Two lines of evidence indicate a population reduction. First, in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) declined by an estimated 54% between 1974 and 1981. Second, a 75% decline in CPUE was estimated from 1994 to 1999 in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Both declines are consistent with a population reduction of >99% over three generation lengths (48 years). This large skate has a slow life history, and many skates with similar characteristics have undergone severe population reductions and face increased extinction risk. It is highly susceptible to exploitation and does not have any refuge from fishing at depth. Overall, due to declining abundance from intense and largely unmanaged fishing through most of its range combined with its large size and presumed late age-at-maturity (and therefore high sensitivity to fishing pressure), it is suspected that the Spotback Skate has undergone a population reduction of >80% over the past three generation lengths (48 years), and it is assessed as Critically Endangered A2bd.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Direccion Nacional de Recursos Acuaticos ; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Atlantoraja platana, La Plata skate

The La Plata Skate (Atlantoraja platana) is a medium-sized (to 91 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Espírito Santo, Brazil to Chubut, Argentina. It inhabits clay, mud, and sand substrates on the continental shelf and upper slope from inshore to 320 m depth. This skate is captured in intensive and largely unmanaged demersal trawl fisheries throughout its range. In southern Brazil, this skate is subjected to intense industrial and artisanal fishing pressure and it is suspected that this has led to declines in abundance there. In Argentina, reported landings of skates in general increased from 900 t in 1993 to a peak of 28,000 t in 2007, and then declined to 24,000 t in 2009–2010. It is smaller-bodied than the Critically Endangered congeneric Spotback Skate (Atlantoraja castelnaui), and by comparison is suspected to be less sensitive to fishing pressure. Although it is still common in catches, the combination of widespread intensive fishing pressure across its range, inadequate management measures, its high catchability, and declines in reported overall skate catches, it is suspected that the La Plata Skate has undergone a population reduction of 50–79% over the past three generations (40.5 years), and it is assessed as Endangered A2bd.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Montealegre-Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos ; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Psammobatis rutrum, spade sandskate

The Spade Sandskate (Psammobatis rutrum) is a small (to 32 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to the San Matías Gulf, northern Chubut, Argentina. It inhabits the continental shelf at depths of 31–150 m. It is captured in demersal trawl fisheries, which are intense in parts of its range. There are no estimates of population trend for this species, but it is still caught commonly in fisheries despite a long history of fishing pressure, and therefore the population size is suspected to be stable. Its small size indicates that it likely has an early age-at-maturity and a fast growth rate and thus some ability to withstand fishing pressure. Therefore, the Spade Sandskate is assessed as Least Concern.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Montealegre Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. No especifíca;Fil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Gurgesiella dorsalifera, onefin skate

The Onefin Skate (Gurgesiella dorsalifera) is a small (to 53 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina State, Brazil. It is demersal on the continental slope at depths of 400–800 m. It is captured in deep-water demersal trawl fisheries, which were developed in Brazil in order to take some pressure off depleted inshore stocks. In southern Brazil, the trawl fishery began in the 1960s and entered a period of rapid expansion in the 1990s and 2000s, resulting in over 650 vessels fishing at depths of 20–1,000 m. From 2003 to 2007, this species was the second-most common discarded bycatch in southern Brazil shrimp trawls by the Spanish deep-water fleet (which comprised 68% of all deep-water trawls off Brazil during that time). This skate is also a common bycatch of the Argentine Squid fishery, which is intense and operates down to about 600 m depth. Although typically discarded, post-release mortality is suspected to be high and it is likely that fishing mortality is leading to a reduction in the population size. Overall, it is suspected that the Onefin Skate has undergone a population reduction of 30–49% over the past three generations (21 years), and it is assessed as Vulnerable A2d.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. No especifíca;Fil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Montealegre-Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Benthobatis kreffti, krefft's blind numbfish

Krefft's Blind Numbfish (Benthobatis kreffti) is a small (to 30 cm total length) deep-water ray that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is benthic on the continental slope at depths of 450–530 m. It is captured in deep-water demersal trawl fisheries, which developed rapidly in the 1990s and early 2000s in Brazil and remain intense and unmanaged. Overall, due to the level of unmanaged fishing pressure it is exposed to and its lack of refuge at depth, it is suspected that Krefft's Blind Numbfish has undergone a population reduction of 30–49% over the past three generations (15 years), and it is assessed as Vulnerable A2d.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Montealegre Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhão; Brasi

Dasyatis hypostigma, Groovebelly Stingray

The Groovebelly Stingray (Dasyatis hypostigma) is a medium-sized (to 58 cm disc width) ray that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Espírito Santo, Brazil to southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It inhabits estuaries and the inner continental shelf at depths of 5–80 m. This stingray is highly valued and the meat is sold locally. It is captured in intense and largely unmanaged artisanal and commercial demersal trawl and gillnet fisheries that operate throughout its geographic range. This species is also likely to be affected by coastal habitat degradation and conversion around large cities. In Buenos Aires Province, it declined in research trawl landings by more than 86% between 1981 and 2006, equivalent to a population reduction of >88% over three generations. Fisheries are intense in the Brazilian portion of its range and similar reductions are suspected there. The level of management in place in the ArgentinaUruguay Common Fishing Zone may have prevented such a steep trajectory there. Overall, due to the presence of intense and mostly unmanaged fishing pressure across its range, at least one decline in an index of abundance, and a decline in habitat quality, balanced with a suspected better situation in the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone, it is suspected that the Groovebelly Stingray has undergone a population reduction of 50–79% over the past three generation lengths (27 years), and it is assessed as Endangered A2bcd.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Montealegre Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi

Psammobatis lentiginosa, Freckle Sandskate

The Freckle Sandskate (Psammobatis lentiginosa) is a small (to 55 cm total length) skate that occurs in the Southwest Atlantic from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil to Chubut Province, Argentina. It inhabits the continental shelf at depths of 28-170 m. It is captured in demersal trawl fisheries, which are intense in parts of its range. Its small size and continued abundance in catches without evidence of a decline indicates that it may be productive enough to withstand some fishing pressure, and the population is suspected to be stable. Therefore, the Freckle Sandskate is assessed as Least Concern.Fil: Pollom, R.. University Fraser Simon; CanadáFil: Barreto, R.. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao Da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Charvet, P.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Hidrobiológica de Puerto Quequén (sede Quequén); ArgentinaFil: Cuevas, J. M.. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Faria, V.. Universidade Federal Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Herman, K.. Georgia Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Montealegre Quijano, S.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Motta, F.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Paesch, L.. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; UruguayFil: Rincon, G.. Universidade Federal Do Maranhao.; Brasi