Shark nursery areas: concepts, definition, characterization and assumptions

The concept of elasmobranch species using nursery areas was introduced in the early 1900s and has been an accepted aspect of shark biology and behavior for several decades. Despite several descriptions of how shark species use nursery areas and what types of regions nurseries may be found in, no explicit definition of what constitutes a shark nursery area has been presented. Here we evaluate the assumptions of the current shark nursery paradigm in light of available data. Based on examination of these assumptions and available methods of quantifying and accurately describing shark nursery areas, a new more quantitative definition of shark nursery areas is proposed. This definition requires 3 criteria to be met…

• JH
  Johns Hopkins University
• FR
  Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
• NO
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• NM
  National Marine Fisheries Service