Shark and ray identification in the Indian Ocean

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These identification cards are produced by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), to help improve catch data and statistics on sharks and rays that interact with tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean. With a better understanding of shark stocks and with better statistics, regional fisheries managers can ensure that sharks and rays are fished in a sustainable manner in the Indian Ocean. The most likely users of the cards are fisheries observers, samplers, fishing masters and crew on board fishing vessels targeting tuna, tuna-like species, sharks and rays in the Indian Ocean. Fisheries training institutions and fishing communities are other potential users.