gained a massive reputation for fisheries industries. Interaction with man General The giant guitarfish is harmless to humans. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List as its population is believed to have declined significantly due to unregulated high levels of exploitation for its flesh and fins, the latter for shark fin soup. Although finning has been prohibited in the eastern Pacific, fins are still traded when the guitarfish is landed. Its low fecundity and presumed slow growth rate make it highly vulnerable to unsustainable exploitation. Fin Trade and Consumption When caught as either targeted or bycatch, the giant guitarfish is kept by fisheries due to the value of their fins. Along the coasts of their distribution range, they're consumed by the locals, but dorsal and caudal fins are often sought through the international shark fin trade. China, among other Asian communities, is one of the nations with the highest demand for the fins of wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes. Shark fin soup is considered a common dish for special occasions in Chinese culture. Apart from the consumption of the species as a traditional dish, wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes are also used for medicinal purposes as well. Profiting at over $964 USD per kilogram in Hong Kong, Qun Chi is the most valuable in the fin market. Viridae Presence Cartilaginous fish, such as the giant guitarfish, have evolved from one of the most ancient lineages from over 400 million years ago and possess potentially the best immune systems in the animal kingdom. The guitarfish adomavirus was discovered which is distantly related polyomaviruses. A juvenile male giant guitarfish was caught and transported to an aquarium, where it began to develop skin lesions. From this, biopsy samples were obtained for further testing utilizing electron microscopy to interpret the cause. Over an eighteen-week period, the skin lesions dissipated, and the specimen remained healthy over the next ten after the lesions completely resolved. During those ten weeks, more samples were collected to ensure stability in the fish's health. Conservation Efforts As of today, there are limited conservation efforts or management regulations established for the giant guitarfish. The practice of finning is now prohibited in all administrations in Australia. Along with this, general fisheries management and protected areas will most likely benefit the giant guitarfish in Australia. References giant guitarfish Fish of the Red Sea Marine fauna of East Africa Taxa named by