Linking Population Genomics and Movement Ecology for Shark Conservation

ABSTRACT

Climate change and overexploitation are increasingly threatening sharks, with pelagic species among the most affected. The complex ecology and life histories of these species, however, pose major challenges for conservation planning. Here, we examine how integrating genomics and movement ecology can better inform the conservation of highly migratory sharks. The growing availability of reference genomes and expanding population genomic datasets in sharks, coupled with advances in biologging, creates unprecedented opportunities to integrate these approaches and link long‐term, population‐level evolutionary processes with short‐term individual, behavioural patterns. This mini review explores research applications that integrate both fields to overcome their individual limitations and strengthen the evidence and conclusions used to inform conservation. Then we discuss, based on previous studies, how this framework can address specific conservation objectives and lead to decision‐ready outcomes, including the delineation of management units, the design of spatial and stock‐specific fisheries management measures, and the assessment of species' vulnerability to climate change. We conclude by highlighting that the translation of this knowledge into practice requires engagement with the scientific and management bodies responsible for evaluating the evidence, advising decision‐makers, and implementing shark conservation measures.