Over exploitation by coastal fisheries is a major threat to many marine species. The giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegus sp.), found in tropical nearshore waters, are highly vulnerable to this threat. In this study, we focus on the widenose guitarfish (Glaucostegus obtusus), a Critically Endangered species, protected under CITES (Schedule II) and listed under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act (WPA). This species is severely understudied and there is an urgent need to fill this knowledge gap to find effective solutions to address the threats that they face.
In Goa, the widenose guitarfish is found in shallow coastal waters, where human activity including fishing, tourism, and other disturbances are common. Small-scale fisheries often catch juveniles and pups of this species as incidental catch indicating the presence of nursery grounds on Goa’s coast. To protect the most vulnerable life-stages, it is important to identify these nursery grounds and other essential fish habitats, and understand their seasonal use by different life history stages. The aim of this project was to understand the impacts of fisheries on guitarfish populations along the coast of Goa and develop locally-appropriate solutions, such as area-based strategies and live-release measures, which can support the on-ground implementation of India's Wildlife Protection Act.