An ecological assessment of large coastal shark communities in South Florida

Given population declines of many shark species, coupled with increasing conservation efforts and recoveries, there is a need for baseline assessments continued monitoring populations to support management. The waters South Florida, USA, are used by diverse array sharks that occur among mosaic habitats management zones. Here we conducted standardized drumline surveys from Miami through the middle Florida Keys examine spatial, seasonal environmental patterns in occurrence, catch per unit effort, composition, demographic structure. Between 2009 2021, total 21,755 drumlines were deployed, capturing 3398 sharks, comprising fifteen species. Ginglymostoma cirratum, (n = 1335), Carcharhinus limbatus, 650), Negaprion brevirostris, 314), C. leucas, 253), Sphyrna mokarran, 238) most common species encountered. Overall, largest surveyed was 450 cm S. mokarran smallest 50 Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. At assemblage level, relative abundance regions seasons generally similar; however clear species-specific abundance, size structure, sex-composition detected season, region, habitat, Of physical conditions evaluated, habitat type depth emerged as influential parameters affecting abundances sizes captured. While few exhibited significant differences catches zone, areas restrictive fisheries regulations supported higher which detected. These data serve future assessing their response change.