This guide, which was kindly funded with voluntary contributions from the German government and and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), was co-authored by Rima W. Jabada and David A. Ebert. It provides identification keys to 68 species of sharks encountered in the Arabian Seas region, and an additional 14 species of sharks and batoids. These include all shark species whose trade or conservation status is regulated through international instruments as well as the ray and sawfish species known to occur in the region.

Illegal take of marine turtles can assume various forms, from poaching of animals and eggs on nesting beaches to illegal take of animals at sea.   Typically, green and leatherback turtles are hunted for their meat; the hawksbill turtle is hunted for its carapace as the raw material for craftwork; while the eggs of loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are considered a delicacy.  Turtle meat consumption reportedly occurs in 75% of IOSEA Signatory States, while trade in shell products seems to be predominant in East Asian countries.  Whereas numerous investigations in this regard have been unde

Interactions between sea turtles and fishing activities have been listed as a significant threat to sea turtles. This study aimed to assess which sea turtle species/populations in the Indian Ocean (IO) are at risk from interactions with tuna-related fisheries. The approach used was a desktop study to compile (1) all available data on sea turtle population demographics, rookery sizes and at-sea distributions; and (2) collate all information of longline, purse seine and gillnet effort and sea turtle interactions in the Indian Ocean.