The rapidly accelerating extinction crisis our planet is currently experiencing is leaving many species at threat and on the brink of extinction. Disappearance of species has cascading effects in regions where they are concentrated, resulting in potential loss of functionality and collapse of associated communities. Ironically, many of the species at threat in aquatic systems are listed as data deficient by the IUCN Red List, limiting any effective management solutions.

It is difficult to understand the ecology and functional importance of species that lack basic biological information. Some projects within MEG therefore focus on understanding the basic biology of species that are threatened, or may be at threat, by publishing data on systematics, morphology, age, growth, reproduction and population structure, and resonating these results through appropriate management portals. Most sharks and rays are facing population declines globally and MEG has a particular focused on these species. Similarly, cryptic species such as gobies and flatworms have been a research concentration in MEG.