Abstract

Worldwide, many shark species are at risk of extinction due to overexploitation. In this work, we used spatial multiple-criteria analysis, based on the World Sharks Assessment data from shark species of the GOM, to map their distribution. Such mapping was based on the following four criteria: 1) high richness, 2) inclusion in any IUCN risk of extinction category, 3) inclusion in the Mexican National Fisheries Chart (MNFC), and (4) consideration of the Fish Base intrinsic vulnerability index. Studies in the northern GOM show a sharp decline in both coastal and oceanic shark populations. In our work, we found 60 shark species at risk of extinction, with some of them included in the MNFC, with this latter Mexican fishery instrument recognizing the fishery extraction of many of these species. In our mapping, many reported species showed a high concentration mainly at middle zones of the GOM. This finding calls for the establishment of international agreements between US and Mexico in terms of shark management and conservation in the GOM.

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