Since the first investigation 25 years ago, the application of genetic tools to address ecological
and evolutionary questions in elasmobranch studies has greatly expanded. Major developments in
genetic theory as well as in the availability, cost effectiveness and resolution of genetic markers were
instrumental for particularly rapid progress over the last 10 years. Genetic studies of elasmobranchs
are of direct importance and have application to fisheries management and conservation issues
such as the definition of management units and identification of species from fins. In the future,
increased application of the most recent and emerging technologies will enable accelerated genetic
data production and the development of new markers at reduced costs, paving the way for a paradigm
shift from gene to genome-scale research, and more focus on adaptive rather than just neutral
variation. Current literature is reviewed in six fields of elasmobranch molecular genetics relevant to
fisheries and conservation management (species identification, phylogeography, philopatry, genetic
effective population size, molecular evolutionary rate and emerging methods). Where possible,
examples from the Indo-Pacific region, which has been underrepresented in previous reviews, are
emphasized within a global perspective.