Shark mortality cannot be assessed by fishery overlap alone

Summary: In this correspondence, the authors respond to critiques of their earlier work on global shark risk by emphasizing the necessity of integrating comprehensive ecological datasets beyond simple spatial overlap with fisheries. They argue that shark mortality cannot be reliably inferred from geographic co-occurrence alone, and that high-resolution telemetry, behavioral data, and life-history traits are essential to accurately quantify risk and implement effective management. The article reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to fisheries impact assessment and advocates for refined methodologies that reflect species-specific vulnerabilities within highly dynamic marine environments.

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