New research changes the perspective on shark protection. It's not enough to protect only sharks themselves

When people talk about shark protection, most imagine banning fishing or creating protected marine areas. However, new research from scientists at Florida International University shows that simply protecting sharks may not be enough. For their populations to truly recover, their food sources must also be protected.

The study focused on Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas, where shark fishing has been banned for many years. Scientists wanted to find out why sharks are much more common in some areas than in others. The results were surprisingly clear – sharks prefer places with a high concentration of prey. However, a large quantity of fish alone is not enough. They are most attracted to locations where food is concentrated in a relatively small area.

The research team used a total of 631 underwater cameras placed on various reefs. The cameras monitored shark movement and simultaneously recorded the amount of fish that constitute their diet. Subsequent analyses showed that shark presence is closely linked to food availability. Sharks regularly returned to areas where they could hunt efficiently without expending unnecessary energy.

According to lead researcher Alastair Harborne, this is an important signal for the future protection of marine ecosystems. If only sharks themselves are protected, but their prey continues to be overfished, shark populations may remain low despite existing fishing bans. In other words – protecting apex predators must include protecting the entire food chain.

The study also showed that Caribbean reef sharks often seek out deeper reefs and areas with steeper slopes. These locations provide them not only with abundant food but also a safer environment and better conditions for movement between different parts of the reef system.

For conservationists, this is a significant discovery. Until now, most measures have focused primarily on limiting shark fishing. However, new research suggests that it is equally important to protect healthy coral reefs and populations of smaller fish that form the basis of the shark's diet. Without them, even protected sharks will not have enough food to survive.

This research thus reminds us of one important fact: sharks are not just inhabitants of the oceans. They are part of a complex ecosystem where every fish and every coral plays its role. If we want to protect sharks, we must protect the entire ocean.

Author: Miri Svobodová
Source: Florida International University, Animal Conservation journal