A recent study has brought to light significant threats to over 80 species of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean Sea, attributing their decline to overfishing, illegal fishing, and the increasing marketing of shark meat. The research examined the current levels of legislation in place to protect elasmobranch populations—which include sharks, rays, and skates—across the 22 coastal states of the Mediterranean region.
The Mediterranean region, stretching from Spain and Morocco in the west to Israel, Lebanon, and Syria in the east, has seen a varied approach to shark conservation. Researchers identified more than 200 measures concerning elasmobranchs across Mediterranean countries, ranging from national legislation to conservation efforts implemented by various non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Notably, European Union countries generally led the implementation of more measures than non-EU countries, with Spain having the highest number of measures in place. Governments were responsible for leading 63% of these measures, mainly relating to legal requirements.
Despite elasmobranchs making it onto many policy agendas, the study found considerable differences in how effectively legislation is being monitored. There is no single source for tracking progress in the conservation and management of sharks at national levels in the Mediterranean region. Experts and NGOs have highlighted that sharks are increasingly being landed intentionally and unintentionally by fishers, often to meet the demand for shark products. There is often little control in place where sharks are landed in the region.
Researchers are calling for increased monitoring to protect threatened species, alongside more public education and incentives for fishers to use equipment that is less threatening to shark species. In the study, the authors listed several recommendations which they believe could be used to better conserve and protect shark and ray species across the Mediterranean Sea.
The research, published in the journal Biological Conservation, represents the first region-wide assessment of actions being taken to protect shark populations through international law. The study was led by Dr. Lydia Koehler and Jason Lowther, both experts in environmental law from the School of Society and Culture at the University of Plymouth.
"Sharks have been part of the marine ecosystem for millions of years with an evolutionary history that predates the dinosaurs," said Dr. Lydia Koehler, Associate Lecturer and a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL).
"There are over 1,000 species of elasmobranchs worldwide, and they fulfil a variety of ecological roles, whether as apex predators that maintain healthy populations of prey species or as a food source for other predators. However, many shark species in the Mediterranean have seen drastic declines in the past few decades, with over half of the species being threatened by extinction, largely due to overfishing and related pressures such as bycatch. Finding effective ways to conserve them is, therefore, of critical importance."
"This study has shown substantial differences in countries' efforts around shark conservation," said Jason Lowther, Associate Professor of Law. "That may be linked to access to resources, available expertise and capacities, and a general willingness to develop and implement measures in light of other competing pressures. Achieving positive outcomes for these species requires not only government support but also sustained political will across election periods and a steadfast long-term commitment to driving change. It also requires the integration of communities in the Mediterranean region, and our view is that this work presents a starting point in that process."
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.