The UIB joins the Life-Prometheus project to boost the protection of sharks and rays

The project aims to reduce the accidental catch of these animals and promote sustainable fishing alternatives, as reported by the university center in a statement.

It will be the research groups in Human and Evolutionary Genetics (Hegen) and Translational Oncology (GMOT) of the UIB that will integrate into the initiative and address some of the main challenges facing the conservation of elasmobranchs, a species to which both sharks and rays belong.

These have a low fecundity rate and slower sexual maturation compared to other marine species, added to which their capture is poorly regulated due to their lower commercial value and are often caught accidentally.

All this causes them to suffer serious conservation problems, especially in the Mediterranean, where 15 species of elasmobranchs are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

The overfishing of these species, even when it is accidental, severely affects their populations. They are also harmed by the destruction of habitats they frequent, such as corals or posidonia meadows, which complicates their reproduction.

To these problems are added the pollution of water with chemicals and plastics and the increase in sea temperatures and the change in current patterns derived from climate change.

With the aim of addressing these factors that hinder the life of sharks and rays, the two UIB research groups will join a consortium formed by 21 institutions from five Mediterranean basin countries.

The project is led by the Polytechnic University of the Marches (Ancona, Italy) and will also include, as Balearic representatives, the Group of Benthic Ecosystems and Demersal Resources from the Balearic Oceanography Center.

Over the next five years, pilot actions will be carried out in different areas of the Mediterranean considered biodiversity hotspots or sensitive areas for some of the vital phases of these species, among which the Balearic Islands are included.

The specific objectives of the UIB researchers will focus on increasing knowledge about the behavior of endangered elasmobranch species and identifying their aggregation and breeding sites.

They will do this by collecting non-lethal samples, through which they will evaluate the reproductive status of the animals by analyzing the concentration of sexual hormones.

A genetic analysis will also be carried out to understand the connectivity between different areas and the presence of behaviors such as philopatry, that is, the tendency to return to birth or mating places.

The project is in its initial phase, and the researchers are planning the necessary actions to reduce accidental catches, promote more sustainable fishing alternatives, improve conservation practices, and promote "ecotourism" activities.

To ensure the effectiveness of the planned actions, the initiative has the collaboration of fishermen, diving centers, educators, markets, and ecological organizations.