More than 90 percent of the waters that sharks and rays rely on across Asia have no meaningful protection at all. A new study published in June 2026 reveals that the continent's most critical habitats for these ancient fish remain almost entirely open to fishing, despite decades of conservation pledges.
A continent of hotspots, a sea of loopholes
Researchers mapped 115 Important Shark and Ray Areas, or ISRAs, across 13 Asian countries. These are places where sharks feed, breed, and give birth. The study found that only 8 percent of these sites fall inside fully protected marine reserves. The rest sit in zones where fishing is allowed, often with few rules. Even when a hotspot overlaps with a protected area, enforcement is weak. Many of these reserves exist only on paper.
Where the danger is greatest
The study focused on Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These four nations hold the highest number of shark and ray hotspots in the region. In Sri Lanka, for example, the waters around Baththalangunduwa are known as a critical habitat for the critically endangered winghead hammerhead shark and threatened eagle rays. Local fishing communities depend on these waters for their livelihoods. But the same waters are also where these animals are caught and killed, often as bycatch. Researchers documented a family of winghead hammerheads and an eagle ray that died in fishing nets in this very area.
Why local people care
For coastal communities across Asia, sharks and rays are not just distant wildlife. They are part of the ocean's health and a source of income. Many fishers rely on shark fin and ray gill plates for trade. But the study shows that overfishing is pushing these species toward collapse. Local fishers in Sri Lanka have reported seeing fewer sharks each year. The loss of these predators can destabilize the entire marine ecosystem, which in turn affects fish stocks that people eat.
The study's authors argue that simply designating a marine protected area is not enough. Without real enforcement and community engagement, these zones fail to stop the decline. They call for stronger national laws and better monitoring of fishing activity in hotspot waters.
This research comes as global attention on ocean protection grows. International targets aim to protect 30 percent of the world's oceans by 2030. But in Asia, the gap between ambition and reality remains wide. The waters that sharks and rays need most are still the waters where they are most vulnerable.
