Regional Technical Workshop on Sharks and Rays of the Southwest Indian Ocean: Status Review and Development of a Roadmap for Conservation and Management: Workshop Report

This workshop report summarises a regional technical meeting held in Mauritius in April 2017 to review the status of sharks and rays in the Western Indian Ocean and to develop a coordinated approach for their conservation and management. It outlines participation from national, regional, and international experts, and describes sessions covering status assessments, national presentations, and methodological tools. The report highlights key findings, including limited management measures, insufficient data on biodiversity, fisheries, and trade, and significant knowledge gaps. It details a structured gap analysis and the collaborative development of a regional roadmap, alongside agreed next steps for refining reports, strengthening data collection, and advancing regional cooperation.