Press Release Important Shark & Ray Areas (ISRAs)
Putting the sharks on the map of the Mediterranean!
iSea had the pleasure to host 26 global and regional experts within the five-day workshop on Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs), organized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group.
During the workshop over 180 experts contributed online and in person to the process of mapping critical habitats for sharks, rays, and chimaeras in the region, based on the best available science to identify regions across global waters most critical for the long term survival of the species.
From these, 85 are now candidate ISRAs and will undergo an evaluation by an Independent Review Panel before they are finalized.
In addition, the participants visited the auction market of Nea Michaniona and were informed about the shark and ray species that are caught, landed and sold in the area, while with the support of SANI Resort they visited Sani, where they were informed about the area and our collaboration.
Find out more about the aims and outcomes of the workshop here.
Presentation of the updated Greek Chondricthyan Checklist
According to the new and updated Greek Chondrichthyans Checklist, which was developed and published by iSea in collaboration with the IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group/ Mediterranean Regional Group and Greek researchers, the Greek waters host a biodiversity of 61 chondrichthyan species (1 chimera, 34 sharks and 26 batoids) with confirmed presence.
On Monday 22 November, there was an online presentation of the book of the updated Greek Chondrichthyans Checklist, by iSea’s Director and Member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group/ Mediterranean Regional Group, Ioannis Giovos, who talked about the results of this process and the methodology that was followed.
We warmly thank Dr. Katerina Koutsovoulou, representative from the Green Fund, and Dr. Petros Lymberakis, Chair of the Hellenic Zoological Society, who gave a greeting speech, as well as Dr. Alen Soldo and Dr. Fabrizio Serena (Co-Regional Vice Chairs of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group for the Mediterranean) who talked about the importance of chondricthyans and their presence in the Mediterranean. Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou (Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University) who showcased the importance of checklists in conservation.
Yet another protected shark species is portrayed as an “Incredible catch!”
Unfortunately, once again, we came across a news report that praises the illegal fishing of a protected sharks species, the Bluntnose Sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus (SBL), a species protected by Greek law. The phenomenon of fishing Bluntnose Sixgill sharks is very common in Greece. So much so, that we often come across photos of the species from fish markets where they illegally sell them as the species “galeos” or promote their consumption stating that they are “exquisite delicacies”.
By systematically recording these phenomena and being in close cooperation with fishers and the relevant competent authorities, we have come to believe that most of such incidents and relevant press reports stem from the lack of knowledge of both fishers and the competent authorities in regard to the relevant legislation and the identification of species.
In the context of our project Alliance for Survival II, we aim to sensitize the public and enhance the knowledge of the fishing community and the competent authorities to address the phenomenon of bycatch of vulnerable species. The response to these efforts has been positive as more and more fishers are releasing not only protected species but also species that are vulnerable because they understand that in order for an ecosystem to be healthy the existence of top predators, such as sharks, is necessary.
In this context, a Citizen Guide has been created in which you can find out which competent authority you should contact in case you encounter an incident of illegal fishing, trade, or demonstration of a protected species of shark, batoid or sea turtle.
In the same context, an Identification Guide has been created, which is addressed to fishers and port authorities and includes all species of sharks, batoids and chimaeras that are present in the Greek seas, providing information not only on their identification and their conservation status but also for their protection status.
We hope that in the future we will not see any other incidents like these, or press reports of such in the news.
Find the Citizen Guide in Greek
Find the Identification Species Guide in Greek
Find the article from the incident in Corfu
Checklist of Chondricthyans in Cyprus
Chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras) play a pivotal role in the marine environment providing stability to coastal and oceanic ecosystem structures and functions.
Today, about half of the Mediterranean sharks and batoids are threatened with extinction, mainly due to by-catch. Nevertheless, research on Chondrichthyes, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, is limited.
In the framework of The MECO project and ELIFE LIFE project, we utilised open data from citizens’ science projects, open-access databases GBIF and OBIS, scientific literature, but also from the Cypriot EU Data Collection Framework to present a reconstructed chondrichthyans national list with all species that have been confirmed to be present in the Cypriot seas. The scientific publication was led by Marine and Environmental Research Lab and iSea in collaboration with Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and other entities from Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom.
It produced vital data for the management and conservation of Chondrichthyes such as the presence of three new species (Dalatias licha, Taeniurops grabatus, and Squatina aculeata) for Cyprus, important grounds for the critically endangered Blackchin Guitafish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) in the Mediterranean, and potential migratory routes for other species.
The updated list of Cyprus contains 32 species of sharks and 28 species of batoids.
The publication is open-access and can be read here.
Greece joins the Angel Shark Project family
In the past three years, iSea has carried out a series of actions with the main purpose of protecting these species both in the Mediterranean and in Greece. These actions include: iSea’s contribution to the creation of the “Mediterranean Angel Sharks: Regional Action Plan” but also to the “Mediterranean Angel Sharks: SubRegional Action Plan (SubRAP) GSAs 22/23 (Aegean Sea and Crete)”, the ongoing collection of data related to the occurrence of angel sharks, and the implementation of projects that aim to enhance the current knowledge on the species’ distribution and ecology in Greece as well as to improve the awareness of fishermen and the relevant legal framework.
As a follow-up to these efforts, Angel Shark Project: Greece is announced. This is an initiative led by iSea, Shark Trust, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which aims to investigate the importance of the Aegean for the three species of angel sharks and improve their protection in Greek waters. Angel Shark Project: Greece will operate in Greece as an umbrella for projects that will be implemented by different partners and funders.
Find more about the Angel Shark Project: Greece here.