A Systematic Review on Challenges and Conservation Strategies for Marine Megafauna

Abstract

Marine megafauna play pivotal roles in oceanic ecosystems, contributing to their health, functionality, and biodiversity. These species are facing escalating threats, from direct harms such as overhunting to indirect pressures like habitat degradation and climate change. This systematic review explores the challenges confronting marine megafauna, examines current conservation strategies, and explores innovative future strategies. Current efforts, while beneficial, often fail to address socio-economic factors and cumulative threat impacts, and lack robust long-term outcome evaluations. Potential strategies, leveraging emerging technologies, climate-smart conservation, sustainable blue economies, and rights-based approaches, are discussed. Despite their potential, these strategies present challenges, necessitating further interdisciplinary, social, cumulative impact, and long-term monitoring research. Understanding and addressing these aspects is essential for the development of holistic, effective, and sustainable marine megafauna conservation strategies. Future research should address gaps in species-specific knowledge, socio-economic understanding, cumulative threat assessments, and long-term conservation outcomes to provide a more comprehensive approach towards the protection of these vital species.