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Emirates Natural History Group (Abu Dhabi Chapter)

Living libaries: How and when social science can help the conservation of endangered species- by Dr. Dareen Almojil

Tue, 1 Nov 2022
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
  • About the speaker:
  • Dr. Dareen Almojil is a post-doctoral associate at New York University – Abu Dhabi. She is currently working with the Evolutionary Genomics laboratory at NYU. Her research is focused on the population genomics of wild Xenopus laevis and its mysterious adaptation to challenging conditions in South Africa and Western France. She obtained her master’s from James Cook University in Australia, followed by a PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK where she investigated the population genetic structure and reproductive behavior of sharks to serve their conservation. During her Ph.D., she published her first book, titled: “Sharks and Rays of the Arabian/Persian Gulf”, and took part in a documentary called “Arabia’s Sharks: A journey of discovery” which was aired on Discovery channel in 2016. She is also the founder of Muthalath, a platform designed to connect STEM researchers in the region with science-related opportunities.

 

  • About the talk
  • Scientific knowledge is lacking on marine species of economic and conservation importance, hindering their sustainable management. Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) has the potential to provide valuable insights on large (spatial and temporal) scales, by drawing on the collective experiences of those who work closely with the taxa of interest. This study explored the status of the shark population over time in four countries across eastern and southern Arabia (i.e. Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen). Results indicate strong declines, with highly experienced fishermen reporting greater perceived declines (80%) in the abundance of sharks (in general), with a mean year of perceived decline starting in the late 1990s to early 2000s. For three specific taxa investigated, hammerhead sharks (e.g. Sphyrna mokarran) had the greatest mean perceived decline (80%), while even the group with the least decline (small carcharhinids) had a mean perceived decline of 50%. Management measures are urgently required in the region to ensure sustainability of historic shark fisheries that provide food security and coastal livelihoods (e.g. Yemen and Oman), and to prevent regional extinctions (e.g. hammerhead sharks). Older and more experienced fishermen who are both; witness to the greatest declines and may have local standing and influence could be valuable resources in developing more community-based sustainable fisheries, especially given the apparent lack of success of formal management measures.

 

 

 

 

Ticket Type Price
ENHG Zoom talk Living libaries: How and when social science can help the conservation of endangered specie AED0.00 Sale Ended

Saadiyat Island, Abū Ȥaby [Abu Dhabi], (Public Bus No. 192), United Arab Emirates

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