Identifying nearshore nursery habitats for sharks and rays in the Eastern Tropical Pacific from fishers’ knowledge and landings

The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) comprising the coasts of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, represents an area high marine biodiversity that supports productive fisheries acts as important migratory corridor for many species. Despite its biological importance, ETP is understudied lacks sufficient data science-based management conservation decision-making. This study aims to consolidate understanding current historical distribution sharks mobulid rays in ETP. We used interviews coastal community stakeholders document local fishers’ knowledge shark ray species distributions. also analysed small-scale landings data, where available, quantify exploitation patterns importance catches. All landed dominant nearshore gillnet fishery show very low mean individuals weights (<5 kg), indicating catches are dominated by juveniles. Aside from smooth-hounds (Mustelus spp.), scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, most frequently region weight number, with peaks abundance between April–July. From 132 51 communities across three countries, two sites, we identified 41 sites 12 broad geographical zones nursery habitats. Of these 68% were associated closely large mangrove systems ETP, highlighting this habitat life history. No seen occurrence or areas. Marine protected areas responsible fishing covered 37% habitats 30% 48% Panama Colombia. These findings provide benchmark allow prioritisation research management.