International study reveals those most affected by fishing are most needed for healthy oceans.

Shark conservation must go beyond simply protecting shark populations — it must prioritise protecting the ecological roles of sharks, according to new research.

The largest sharks of many of the biggest species, such as tiger sharks and great whites, play an oversized role in healthy oceans, but they are often the most affected by fishing.

The big sharks help maintain balance through their eating habits. Sometimes their sheer size is enough to scare away prey that could over-consume seagrass and other plant life needed for healthy oceans.

Sharks can also help shape and maintain balance from the bottom-up. That means a variety of sharks in a variety of sizes are needed, yet their many and diverse contributions are under threat from overfishing, climate change, habitat loss, energy mining, shipping activities and more.

The study, involving marine scientists at Lancaster University and led by Florida International University (FIU), was published today in Science and sheds new light on what role sharks play in healthy oceans and why size should be a factor in conservation decisions.

Dr Ruth Dunn, researcher at Lancaster University and co-author of the study, said: “Sharks are a really diverse group of species and so they undertake a huge variety of roles within the ecosystems that they live in. Unfortunately, their populations have suffered declines, largely due to ongoing commercial fishing. Because of their many roles, implications of reductions in their numbers are likely to be wide-reaching.

“Ultimately, our study emphasises that understanding the roles that marine predators play within the ecosystems that they inhabit is crucial in informing conservation action and protecting our oceans.”

Besides helping to maintain balance within the food web, reef sharks feed in offshore waters and bring nutrients back to the reef. Others move nutrients around that are used at the base of the food chain. Sharks can also serve as food for other species and even as scratching posts for fish to remove parasites.

The problem is shark abundance has plummeted by 71 percent for oceanic species in the past 50 years.

Populations of the top five reef shark species have been depleted by 63 percent. As their numbers plummet, their important roles in ocean health are also lost.

“It’s time to have a conversation about everything sharks are doing to maintain ocean health so we can better prioritize conservation efforts and have the biggest impact,” said Simon Dedman, researcher at Florida International University and lead author of the study.

The issue of shark conservation becomes all the more critical as global temperatures increase, leading some sharks to head into new areas where they can find the temperatures they can thrive in.

“This study verifies what we’ve long suspected – sharks are critical to ocean health,” said Lee Crockett, executive director of the Shark Conservation Fund which funded the study. “This landmark study serves as confirmation that marine conservationists, philanthropists, policymakers, and the public alike need to recognise that sharks are keystone species that have a now-proven significant effect on marine environments.”

With the expansion of blue economy industries like aquaculture and tourism, people’s encounters with sharks will likely increase. Finding a balance that protects the sharks most needed for healthy oceans is hitting a critical point.

“National and international policy must focus on actions that rebuild populations and restore sharks' functional roles,” said Mike Heithaus, study co-author from Florida International University. “That requires action to increase both spatial measures like Marine Protected Areas and fisheries management measures like catch/size limits and gear limitations. If people want healthy oceans, we need healthy shark populations.”

Lancaster University researchers involved in the study were Dr Ruth Dunn and Professor Nicholas Graham.