Sharks in the Southeastern Pacific: Conservation and Management Challenges in Peru

Medina Sánchez E.E.; Soto Meléndez K.; Pérez Cruz S.E.; Quezada Rodríguez V.; Orué Carranza A.C.; Pozo Vargas F. · South sustainability (2026) · DOI: 10.21142/ss-0701-2026-e140

Resumen

Sharks are apex predators, essential for regulating ecosystems and maintaining marine trophic balance. In Peru, fishing pressure on sharks is driven primarily by human consumption, with 33 of the 56 reported species interacting with fisheries and most of the fishing effort concentrated on only six species. In this synthesis, we analyze the current regulatory framework governing shark fishing in Peru and address the need to strengthen existing measures. Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified five Important Shark, Ray and Chimaera Areas (ISRAs) in Peruvian waters, these have yet to be integrated into national conservation strategies. In addition, we call upon institutions to increase research on this group of chondrichthyans, in order to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based adaptive management, with the aim of preventing the population collapse of these apex predators as a result of overfishing. © Los autores, 2026. Publicado por la Universidad Científica del Sur (Lima, Perú).

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur