CERSE: Central and Eastern Red Sea Elasmobranchs

Elasmobranch populations in the Red Sea are declining due to intense fishing activity. Effective conservation requires informed management strategies, yet our understanding of their distribution in the basin is limited. This study introduces CERSE (Central and Eastern Red Sea Elasmobranchs), the most extensive compilation of elasmobranch data in the Central and Eastern Red Sea. Gathering information from scientific cruises, surveys, and literature, we recorded 2847 sightings using various methods. This dataset is vital for assessing elasmobranch populations and will guide future research and conservation efforts in the region.

Methods
This study encompasses a total of 2847 sightings recorded through different techniques. The data come from surveys conducted during two scientific cruises, The Red Sea Decade Expedition (RSDE) and the Southern Red Sea Expedition (SRSE), a time-series survey from The Red Sea Project area (RSG), and information extracted from literature.