Atelomycterus marmoratus

Abstract

The Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) is a small (to 70 cm total length) shark that occurs in the Eastern and Western Indian, Western Central Pacific, and Northwest Pacific Oceans from Pakistan to China. It inhabits shallow rocky and coral reef habitats at depths of 5–100 m. The species is a bycatch of a range of artisanal and industrial gears including demersal trawl, longline, and gillnet and is retained for human consumption. Reconstructed catches of all sharks, skates, and rays from the Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet Nam, and China Exclusive Economic Zones can be used to infer population reductions of 54–99% over the past three generation lengths (45 years). Further, a population reduction of 60% was inferred based on a 50% decrease in fisheries-independent research survey catch rate of elasmobranchs (all species combined) between 1978–80 and 2013 in Myanmar. These levels of declines are not species-specific but are informative for understanding the broader levels of decline of elasmobranchs in the region. Fishing pressure is high across much of the spatial and depth range of this species, yet it is still commonly landed in parts of its range. The relative proportion of this species in shark landings has increased over recent decades in the region, which may be in response to the overfishing of large sharks resulting in meso-predator release of the Coral Catshark. Alternatively, the increase in landings may imply some resilience to, or refuge from, fishing pressure. This species spends much of its time on coral and rocky habitats where many fishing gears are unlikely to be deployed. The rocky and coral habitat and inshore and seasonal trawl bans in China may afford the species refuge from fishing pressure over the majority of its range. This species is not targeted in any part of its range and if landed is likely as done so as bycatch. It is likely that this species has not declined to the same degree as other sharks and rays in the region. It is suspected that the Coral Catshark has undergone a population reduction of 20–29% over the last three generation lengths (45 years) due to declines in habitat quality and levels of exploitation, and it is assessed as Near Threatened (close to meeting Vulnerable A2cd).