Scientific knowledge is lacking on marine species of economic and conservation importance, hindering their sustainable management. Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) has the potential to provide valuable insights on large (spatial and temporal) scales, by drawing on the collective experiences of those who work closely with the taxa of interest. This study explored the status of shark population over time in four countries across eastern and southern Arabia (i.e. Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen). Results indicate strong declines, with highly experienced fishermen reporting greater perceived declines (80%) in the abundance of sharks (in general), with mean year of perceived decline starting in the late 1990s to early 2000s. For three specific taxa investigated, hammerhead sharks (e.g. Sphyrna mokarran) had the greatest mean perceived decline (80%), while even the group with the least decline (small carcharhinids) had mean perceived declines of 50%. Management measures are urgently required in the region to ensure sustainability of historic shark fisheries that provide food security and coastal livelihoods (e.g. Yemen and Oman), and to prevent regional extinctions (e.g. hammerhead sharks). Older and more experienced fishermen who are both; witness to the greatest declines and may have local standing and influence could be valuable resources in developing more community-based sustainable fisheries, especially given the apparent lack of success of formal management measures.

缺乏关于具有经济和保护重要性的海洋物种的科学知识，阻碍了它们的可持续管理。本地生态知识 (LEK) 有可能通过利用与感兴趣的类群密切合作的人的集体经验，在大（空间和时间）尺度上提供有价值的见解。本研究探讨了阿拉伯东部和南部四个国家（即科威特、巴林、阿曼和也门）的鲨鱼种群状况。结果表明下降幅度很大，经验丰富的渔民报告鲨鱼数量（一般）的感知下降幅度更大（80%），感知下降的平均年份从 1990 年代末到 2000 年代初开始。对于研究的三个特定分类群，双髻鲨（例如Sphyrna mokarran) 的平均感知下降幅度最大 (80%)，而即使是下降最少的组（小型真鲨属）也有 50% 的平均感知下降。该地区迫切需要采取管理措施，以确保提供粮食安全和沿海生计的历史悠久的鲨鱼渔业的可持续性（例如也门和阿曼），并防止区域灭绝（例如双髻鲨）。年长和更有经验的渔民；见证最大的衰退并可能具有当地地位和影响力，这可能是发展更多以社区为基础的可持续渔业的宝贵资源，特别是考虑到正式管理措施明显缺乏成功。