M o o r e, Alec B.M., S é r e t , B e r n a r d a n d Ar m s t r o n g, Roy (2 0 1 9) Ris k s t o bio div e r si ty a n d c o a s t al liveli hoo d s fro m a r ti s a n al el a s m o b r a n c h fis h e ri e s in a L e a s t D ev elo p e d Co u n t ry: Th e G a m bi a (Wes t Afric a). Bio div e r si ty a n d Co n s e rv a tio n, 2 8 (6). p p. 1 4 3 1-1 4 5 0.Do w nlo a d e d fro m: h t t p://i n si g h t. c u m b ri a. a c. u k/i d/ e p ri n t/ 4 5 7 0/
U s a g e o f a n y i t e m s f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C u m b r i a' s i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e p o s i t o r y 'I n s i g h t' m u s t c o n f o r m t o t h e f o l l o w i n g f a i r u s a g e g u i d e l i n e s .Any it e m a n d it s a s s o ci a t e d m e t a d a t a h el d in t h e U niv e r si ty of C u m b ri a 's in s ti t u tio n al r e p o si t o ry In si g h t (u nl e s s s t a t e d o t h e r wi s e o n t h e m e t a d a t a r e c o r d) m a y b e c o pi e d, di s pl ay e d o r p e rfo r m e d, a n d s t o r e d in lin e wi t h t h e JISC fai r d e ali n g g ui d eli n e s (av ail a bl e h e r e ) for e d u c a tio n al a n d n o t-fo r-p r ofit a c tiviti e s Abstract Developing nations in tropical regions harbour rich biological resources on which humans depend for food, income and employment, yet data to aid their management is often lacking. In West Africa, the diversity and isheries of elasmobranchs are poorly documented, despite them being known to be economically important and vulnerable to overexploitation. Rapid qualitative surveys of ish processing and landing sites in The Gambia from 2010-2018 revealed valuable new data on species composition, biology, relative abundance, isheries and utilisation by humans. Diversity and abundance was dominated by batoids, with a major component comprising a large guitarish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) that was apparently targeted, and a small whipray (Fontitrygon margaritella). Nearly all taxa recorded are classiied by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered (angel sharks Squatina spp.), Endangered, Data Deicient, or Not Evaluated; several were endemic, of exceptional evolutionary distinctness, cryptic, possibly undescribed, and rare (including stingray Hypanus rudis not apparently recorded since description in 1870). Signiicant threats to biodiversity, coastal livelihoods and possibly food security are identiied based on the apparent importance of elasmobranch isheries and processing; the known inability of key taxa to withstand intensive isheries; 'ishing down the food web' by intensive utilisation of F. margaritella; and the absence or rarity of previously common elasmobranch species that may be severely depleted in the region. This study provides data that may act as a starting point to aid sustainability accreditation of local in-isheries, and demonstrates the value of inexpensive and low-resolution data collection in developing countries.