About 1/3 of sharks and rays worldwide are facing extinction

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A total of 128,918 species are included in the recent IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 35,765 of these species are listed as Endangered.

The populations of more than 420 species were assessed, 154 of which are listed as Endangered. Among them, there are species that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in Greek waters such as the Galeorhinus galeus (GAG) Tope shark, and Chimaera monstrosa (CMO) Rabbitfish. Out of the 200 species that were listed as Not Evaluated in 2014, due to a lack of data, 57 are now evaluated as Endangered in the most recent report.

One species of shark (Carcharhinus obsoletus), which was only formally described in 2019, enters the Red List as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) since its most recent record dates back to 1934. Nevertheless, further research is required.

The Greek Red Book was published in 2009 and it included 63 Chondrichthyan species, 50 of which were listed as Not Evaluated due to the absence of data. According to recent research, it is estimated that the majority of the species that belong to the Data Deficient (DD) category, i.e. the majority of the species found in the Greek seas, belong to the threatened categories and thus are facing extinction.

                                      

iSea and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group have undertaken the preparation and compilation of the National Chondrichthyans Checklist in Greece in collaboration with Greek researchers. However, this is only an initial step as, considering the information presented above, it is imperative to re-compile the Red List for Chondrichthyans in Greece.

Wheeled vehicles in the Protected Area of Elafonisos during popular TV show

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Οn the 7th of December, thousands of TV viewers watched wheeled vehicles moving on the Protected Areas of Elafonisos island during the TV show of the STAR channel “Greece’s Next Top Model (GNTM) 3”.

Elafonisos, due to its particularly high ecological value, is a Special Protected Area according to the Natura 2000 Network (GR2540002 site, PERIOCHI NEAPOLIS KAI NISOS ELAFONISOS). Since off-road vehicles moving on sand dunes and the seashore are prohibited by law, 17 environmental organisations denounce the event asking its further examination from the corresponding authorities. We hope for the positive response of the authorities in charge, as well as for the promotion awareness among the public about the importance of the area’s preservation and respect to the protection measures.

 

iSea’s participation in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

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iSea participated in the consultation of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy on the bill entitled “Integrated Maritime Policy in the Island Area and other provisions”.

We highlighted the fact that this bill does not have a truly integrated approach in regards to island and maritime areas, as it is not fully in line with the goals of Blue Growth. More specifically, it appears that the bill does not take into account the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union, nor United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or the European Green Deal. Therefore, we propose that a number of changes should be made to this bill for it to better incorporate the goals of sustainable development and blue growth. Please find all of iSea’s comments here.

Reforms in the management of alien species

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A new study with the participation of iSea, led by Cypriot and Greek scientists, proposes major changes in the management of marine alien species in the Mediterranean Sea

Non-indigenous species (also known as alien or non-native) are species introduced outside their natural past or present range, which might survive and subsequently reproduce. There are more than 800 non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean, and the number has been exponentially growing in the recent decades, particularly through the Suez Canal. They are characterized as a major threat to ecosystems due to their potential impacts on the environment, economy, and even human health. However, there are non-indigenous species that can offer benefits e.g. replacing lost ecological functions, enhancing ecological redundancy and providing fishery balance. Stopping the spread of such species is virtually impossible especially with the tools we have today.

A new study published in the ‘Journal of Environmental Management’ – led by the Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab, in collaboration with scientists from Greek organizations such as iSea, the University of Patras, HCMR, the University of Plymouth (UK) and the University of Queensland (Australia), is proposing institutional changes in the approach and management of marine alien species in the Mediterranean. In order to address such issues, the study proposes cost-benefit analysis, as well as a series of institutional reforms that will guide whether each species should be managed in a sustainable or unsustainable way.

For example, where there are negative impacts, the study proposes legislation to actively promote commercial over-exploitation and the creation of specific licences for recreational fishers targeting non-indigenous species. It also recommends investment in the market and valorisation of NIS products, the development of novel products, and fishery-related tourism. The study also highlights the importance of investing in natural-based solutions such as the protection of native predators, the enhancement of marine protected areas (MPAs), and allowing SCUBA divers to remove invasive species from MPAs.

Periklis Kleitou, lead author of the study and researcher at MER Lab, said: “The Mediterranean is heavily overexploited. It is unwise to perceive all the effects of non-indigenous species in the region as negative. Some species have been established in the basin for decades playing a major role in ecosystem and fisheries balance. In some parts of the eastern Mediterranean, they might account for over half the fishery catches in some parts of the eastern Mediterranean. Others are harmful and we do not actively promote their overexploitation. The solutions we propose would create an ecosystem-based framework to promote fishery sustainability in the region”.

Co-author Ioannis Giovos, from the environmental organization iSea and researcher at MER Lab, added: “We cannot talk about fighting alien species without, at the same time, protecting their potential native predators, many of which are endangered in the Mediterranean due to overfishing. With the right measures and institutional changes, alien species can be a driving force for the sustainable management of stocks and a breath can be given to the Mediterranean ecosystems, but this requires courageous moves at national, Mediterranean and European level.”

Find the full study here: Kleitou et al: Fishery Reforms for the Management of Non-Indigenous Species – can be found at the Journal of Environmental Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111690

NGOs, Universities and activists urge the Tunisian state to protect Great White Sharks

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Two unfortunate incidents took place recently in Tunisia, where 2 individuals of Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) were landed and sold in the local markets. The sharks were captured as bycatch. This follows other such incidents reported in 2018, 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2009. Landings of White Sharks contravene the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) measure protecting this species and all other shark and ray species listed on Annex II of the Barcelona Convention Protocol concerning the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean.

The Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most iconic animals of our oceans and the world’s largest known predatory fish. Unfortunately, contemporary narratives widely presented in popular and mainstream and cultural media, have attached an utterly negative connotation to this fascinating species, propagating a fabricated image of them as implacable and voracious predators.

Currently, its Mediterranean population is listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the dramatic decline of its population in the last 50 years that varies from 52% to up to 96% in some regions.

While there are no targeted fisheries for the species in the Mediterranean, bycatch in different fishing gears, like the pelagic longlines, bottom trawls and purse seines is the most prevalent threat for its collapsing population. Although it is possible that these animals were caught accidentally, it is intended that fishers release them alive.

It is particularly important that competent authorities pay close attention to such incidents, taking into account the existing protection and conservation status of the species, and the fact that such accidental captures could allow the development of an illegal market. This could threaten the survival of the Great White Shark, a species that exhibits low reproductive and growth rates, long lifespan and a highly migratory nature.

We call upon the Tunisian authority to adopt a domestic protection measure for the Great White Shark and all species included in the GFCM/42/2018/2 list, and to further enforce the implementation of all existing binding measures that are yet to be effectively enforced and could contribute significantly to the conservation of these threatened species. In addition, we urge all Mediterranean countries to co-operate to apply and to enforce all relevant decisions and legislations. In parallel, it is important to educate and inform fishers, involved stakeholders, and the general public on the value and status of such iconic and unique marine animals, that serve as flagship species for the conservation of the Mediterranean basin.

Applied legislations for the protection of the Great White Sharks in the Mediterranean

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), inclusion in Appendix II (Species threatened with extinction)

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), such as the inclusion as a “protected species” in Appendix II (Migratory species conserved through Agreements)

EU: Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, in Annex I (prohibition to fish for, retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell, display or offer for sale, as referred to in Article 10(2)) in all waters

EU: Regulation (EU) 2015/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council – transposition of GFCM/42/2018/2 into EU Regulations applicable to the EU Fleet in the Mediterranean.

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2016/1251 in Table 1D (Species to be monitored under protection programmes in the Union or under international obligations)

Law on Fisheries n.64/2012 – amended on April 2020 by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Albania

Israel: protected since 2005

Italy: 1992, law on wildlife protection n.150/1992.

Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 26/15

Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 76/06

Spain: Real Decreto 139/2011 Listado de Especies Silvestres en Régimen de Protección Especial y del Catálogo Español de Especies Amenazadas

Slovenia: Decree on the protected free-ranging animal species (UL RS 46/04)

For more information please contact

iSea, Environmental Organisation for the Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, Greece, info@isea.com.gr

This press release issued by iSea and is supported by:

Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development
All For Blue
Associació Lamna
Association Ailerons
Association Pour l’Etude et la Conservations des Sélaciens (APECS)
Associazione Isoetes, no-profit association
Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation
CATSHARKS, Association for the study and conservation of elasmobranchs and its ecosystems
Requins et Des Hommes (DRDH)
Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre
Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea
Ichthyological Research Society of Turkey
Ilija Cetkovic, University of Montenegro – Institute of Marine Biology
Longitude 181
Marine and Environmental Research Lab Ltd. (MER Lab),
Marine biology in Libya
MedSharks
Mendil Hamza Med Anis, PhD Laboratoire Conservation et Valorisation des Ressources Marines, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral
Mersea Marine Conservation Consutling
Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society
OceanCare
Project AWARE
Sami Mhenni, marine activist
Sea Shepherd Greece
SHARKPROJECT
Shark Trust
Sharks Educational Institute
Sharks in Israel
SUBMON
Tethys Research Institute
The Dolphin’s Voice e.V
The MECO (Mediterranean Elasmobranchs Citizen Observations) project,
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV),
University of Calabria, Laboratory of Marine Zoology and Herpetology, Department of Biology,
Ecology and Earth Sciences
The University of Patras, Department of Animal Production, Fisheries & Aquaculture

Launch of our new project “Updating the Greek National Chondrichthyans Checklist”

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At least 63 species of chondrichthyans are found in Greek seas; nevertheless, our knowledge about their exact number and spatial distribution is limited, and thus further research is required to fill the gaps. Robust and up-to-date information is necessary for the development of effective and evidence-based chondrichthyan conservation actions and will ease the creation of a valid Red List for the species within the Greek waters.

Against this backdrop, iSea will be undertaking the update of the national checklist of chondrichthyan species of Greece with support from the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. This project, entitled “Updating the Greek National Chondrichthyans Checklist”, is funded under the financial programme of the Green Fund “Natural environment & innovative environmental actions 2020” by the priority axis “Actions to Conserve Biodiversity”.

Within this context, an updated national checklist of chondrichthyans will be prepared via the collaboration of a large number of scientists from Greece. The existing relevant literature will be reviewed, virtual round tables and workshops with Greek chondrichthyan researchers and members of the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group will be conducted, an e-book containing the new official national checklist and information for each species in both Greek and English will be published, and hardcopy versions will be printed and distributed among competent authorities and stakeholders to promote and disseminate chondrichthyan conservation in Greece.

Mediterranean Angel Sharks: SubRegional Action Plan in Aegean Sea and Crete

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The pictured shark is an angel shark. Angel sharks are flat-bodied bottom-dwelling sharks and their family is considered to be one the most endangered in the world. In the Mediterranean Sea, 3 species of angel sharks exist the Sawback Angelshark, the Smooth back Angelshark, and the Angelshark their Mediterranean population has been classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, due to the severe decline in their population as well as to localised extinctions. In Greece, all the 3 Mediterranean species are extant.

This Subregional Action Plan was initiated by The Shark Trust developed by iSea in collaboration with The Shark Trust, TUDAV institute, WWF Greece, and WWF Turkey..

The vision of the Action Plan is to restore and protect these species population in this important area, by evaluating the main threats that the species are faced and by proposing detailed actions to be adopted for the accomplishment of the vision. In this context, three goals were set, based on the Mediterranean Action Plan:

Fisheries based angel shark mortality is minimised in the Aegean and Cretan seas
Angel shark habitat is identified and protected.
National legislation for angel sharks is established, implemented, and enforced.

Find the press release here

Find the Mediterranean Angel Sharks: SubRegional Action Plan (SubRAP) GSAs 22/23 (Aegean Sea and Crete) here.

The presence of Tripletail in Greece and Cyprus

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In the context of our project Is it Alien to you? Share it!!! in addition to recordings of alien species, we further collect observations of rare Mediterranean species, sent to us by citizen scientists.

Find bellow the new scientific paper of the project that focuses on the presence of Atlantic Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis in the eastern Mediterranean basin and specifically in the seas of Greece and Cyprus. The paper emphasizes the importance of Citizen Science in researching and monitoring the distribution of marine species in a changing environment, like the Mediterranean Sea.

Find the publication here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41208-020-00244-6

 

New case of illegal shark fishing in Greece

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Another case of illegal fishing of a protected species of elasmobranch has come to our attention after a friend of iSea posted an article of viannitika.gr news site in the group Is it Alien to You? Share it!!!. The article (now removed from the website) included photos of a professional fisher from Crete exhibiting a captured and landed individual of Isurus oxyrinchus (SMA), Shortfin Mako with the title  “A scary but … delicious capture”.

The article comes almost after a week after the recent letter of complaint of iSea about the incident of the illegal fishing of a guitarfish at Chios. The incident of Chios taken over by the competent Port Authority which imposed all legal sanctions on the fisher. A new complaint letter sent from iSea at the Heraklion Port Authority.

 

Letter of complaint by iSea for the displaying of a protected Blackchin guitarfish

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Recently, an incident of illegal fishing of a protected Blackchin guitarfish individual from Chios sent to us by a supporter of iSea. The legal department of the organisation, after contacting the relevant port authority, sent the following letter with a view to triggering all necessary actions that would clarify the case.

From: iSea, Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of the Aquatic Ecosystems

Protocol Number: 316

To: Central Port Authority of Chios

Title: Letter of complaint of the displaying of a protected batoid catch

On 20/2/2020, we detected on Facebook a post by a social media user, which exhibited a capture of a Rhinobatos cemiculus (RBC) Blackchin guitarfish individual. The species in the EU waters and is prohibited from retained on board, transhipped, landed, transferred, stored, sold or displayed or offered for sale based on the Regulation (EU) 2015/2102 (amending Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 on certain provisions for fisheries in the area of the GFCM Agreement (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, Barcelona Convention on the Protection of the Mediterranean from Pollution) and in particular Protocol II on Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean “).

The post was posted in the public profile of the user ” Εστιατόριο Λιμανάκι Θαλασσινά” which apparently belongs to a restaurant from Chios island. The user profile indicates the location of the restaurant (Volissos Chios) and the name of the owner. The information displayed in this profile in combination with the posted photo leaves no doubt about the identity of the offender.

As Facebook posting constitutes, according to the Greek courts, an acceptable means of proof and the information posted by the user on public internet access does not constitute personal data and does not fall under the protective provisions of the European Regulation on the Processing of Personal Data 2018/1725, neither in those of the Greek Law 2472/1997 “on the protection of personal data” we call the competent authorities to immediately investigates the incident, identify the offender and enforce the relevant administrative fine as required by law.

iSea as an organisation remains at your disposal for any clarification or assistance necessary to investigate the incident, as it relates to a rare and endangered species that have been frequently notified to the relevant port authorities, fishing associations and operators. Accordingly, with this letter, we notify your office, which is responsible for the implementation of the aforementioned Regulations, on the incident. Attached you will find the picture posted in the public profile of the user.

The Director of the Legal Department of iSea

Vasiliki Oikonomou