David J. Allen The Conservation Status of · David J. Allen, IUCN Global Species Programme, The...

The Conservation Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in the Mediterranean Sea

> Despite our rapidly improved understanding of their widespread overexploitation in the Mediterranean basin5,6, no effective chondrichthyan-focused management measures have been successfully implemented, nor enforced. Stock assessments are underway, however assessments are not management measures, but essential precursors to set catch limits for those more productive species that could be brought into sustainability. In 2010 and 2011 the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional � sheries management organisation for the Mediterranean Sea, adopted ad hoc measures to reduce the bycatch of pelagic sharks such as Thresher, Mako and Hammerhead sharks. In 2012, the GFCM banned � nning practices in the Mediterranean and Black seas and also prohibited the capture and sale of the sharks and rays species listed in Annex II of the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD) Protocol of the Barcelona Convention. In 2010-2013 the GFCM carried out a three-year research programme to improve the knowledge and assess the status of elasmobranchs in the region, and it continues to work in close collaboration with the regional experts to contrast sharks and rays populations’ decline. However only a few of its Parties have taken concrete domestic action to implement these recommendations. Prohibitions on catch, such as required for the species listed on the Barcelona Convention, should be urgently implemented to avoid further declines and extinctions. The IUCN Shark Specialist Group and the Shark Trust are working together to ensure implementation of protections for all three species of Angel Shark.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

IUCN Centre for Mediterranean CooperationMarie Curie, 22. 29590 - Campanillas (Málaga) Spainiucnmed@ iucn.org | Tel +34 95 202 84 30 | Fax +34 95 202 81 45www.iucn.org/mediterranean

Core support to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by:

REFERENCES

1. Dulvy, N.K. et al. 2014. Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays. eLife 3: e00590.

2. Cavanagh, R.D. and Gibson, C. 2007. Overview of the Conservation Status of Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain.

3. Camhi, M.D., Fowler, S.L., Musick, J.A., Bräutigam, A. and Fordham, S.V. 1998. Sharks and their relatives: ecology and conservation. IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

4. Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara, G. 2014. Sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in the Mediterranean Sea: a summary of status, threats, and conservation recommendations. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 24: 4-10.

5. Vasilakopoulos, P., Maravelias, C.D. and Tserpes, G. 2014. The Alarming Decline of Mediterranean Fish Stocks. Current Biology 24(14): 1643-1648.

6. Osio, G.C., Orio, A. and Millar, C.P. 2015. Assessing the vulnerability of Mediterranean demersal stocks and predicting exploitation status of un-assessed stocks. Fisheries Research 171: 110-121.

CITATION: Dulvy, N.K., Allen, D.J., Ralph, G.M. and Walls, R.H.L. (2016). The conservation status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in the Mediterranean Sea [Brochure]. IUCN, Malaga, Spain.

AUTHORS

Nicholas K. Dulvy, IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.

David J. Allen, IUCN Global Species Programme, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Gina M. Ralph, IUCN Global Species Programme, Marine Biodiversity Unit, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, United States.

Rachel H.L. Walls, IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.

©2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature

Sandbar Shark, Carcharhius plumbeus © Tahsin Ceylan

MEDITERRANEAN SHARKS AND RAYS FACE AN EXTINCTION CRISIS

At least 53% of the sharks, rays and chimaeras native to the Mediterranean Sea are at risk of extinction and require urgent action to conserve their populations and habitats.

This publication summarizes the outcomes of a signi� cant collaboration between the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, the IUCN Global Species Programme and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group who, together with experts from across the Mediterranean region, have worked to bring together available information on the species of Chondrichthyans found in the Mediterranean Sea and produce assessments for the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM.

This assessment was undertaken through the Mediterranean Red List Initiative, which is coordinated by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

Bullray, Pteromylaeus bovinus © La Ciutat De Les Arts I Les Ciències, Valencia

Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias © Peter Verhoog / Dutch Shark Society

Rough Skate,Raja radula © Tahsin Ceylan

An analysis of threat levels across all sharks, rays and chimaeras has revealed the Mediterranean Sea as a key hotspot of extinction risk1. Seventy seven species are recorded from the Mediterranean Sea, however of these, four species are considered to be either vagrant or probably vagrant, or Lessepsian immigrants from the Red Sea; they are the Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna), the Reticulate Whipray (Himantura uarnak), the Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) and the Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). These four species have been excluded as Not Applicable for the Mediterranean region. Three species are endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and found nowhere else – Maltese Skate (Leucoraja melitensis; CR), Rough Skate (Raja radula; EN), and the Speckled Skate (Raja polystigma; LC). More than half of the species assessed, 39 of 73 species, are regionally threatened; 31 are most imperilled in the Critically Endangered (20 species) and Endangered (11) categories (Figure 1). On a global scale, of the 20 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras that have been assessed as Critically Endangered, seven have some part of their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. Of the other 13 regionally CR species, the Mediterranean Sea part of their population is more threatened than the remainder of their global range.

The level of threat may be worse because uncertainty in species status remains moderately high in the Mediterranean Sea; of the 73 assessed species 13 remain Data Defi cient. Status uncertainty tends to be greatest along North African coasts, emphasizing the need for further research in this part of the Mediterranean region where species richness was also greatest (Figure 2). Although there are synoptic research surveys throughout the northern coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea, there are no population time-series available from North African waters. By assuming varying fractions of the Data Defi cient species are threatened, the overall level of threat ranges from 53% (if none of the DD species are threatened) to 71% if all DD species are threatened. Up to two-thirds of Chondrichthyans may be threatened, the mid-point estimate suggests 65% of extant species for which suffi cient data are available are threatened.

Furthermore, there is no sign of improvement in the status of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans more than a decade since they were fi rst assessed. We can track changes in status of Chondrichthyans by comparing these fi ndings to the fi rst Mediterranean Sea Red List assessment in 20072 to this most recent assessment in 2016. There were no genuine improvements in status for the 73, whereas the status of 11 species worsened by at least one Red List Category.

At least half of the rays (50%, 16 of 32 species) in the Mediterranean Sea face an elevated risk of extinction, as well as 56% of sharks (23 of 41), whereas the only chimaera species (Chimaera monstrosa) is considered Least Concern in these waters. Of a total 27 chondrichthyan Families occurring in the Mediterranean Sea, 74% (20 Families, 39 species) have at least one species listed as threatened, 52% (14 Families, 24 species) of which have all species listed as threatened. Examples of Families with all species threatened are the thresher sharks (Family Alopiidae), the Angel Sharks (Squatinidae), and the Guitarfi s hes (Rhinobatidae). Of the remaining 45% of species in the region, 13 are Data Defi c ient (one of which is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea), nine Near Threatened, and 12 Least Concern. When the Mediterranean Sea Chondrichthyans were fi r st assessed2 18 species were considered DD, only seven of which are still DD, representing signifi c ant knowledge improvement between assessments.

The principal driver of decline and local extinction is overfishing. Most species are taken as retained valuable bycatch in small-scale and large-scale trawland net multispecies fisheries (Figure 3). Oceanic pelagic sharks are taken as retained secondary bycatch in longline fisheries targeting swordfishes and tunas. More recently, there is concern over the escalating targeting of pelagic sharks as tunas and swordfishes are increasingly regulated. The status of several pelagic sharks has worsened, including: Basking Shark, White Shark, Blue Shark, and Smooth Hammerhead Sharks. Bycatch volumes and species composition are poorly documented and data arerarely incorporated into national and international (FAO) statistics, therefore numbers of sharks caught as bycatch can only be crudely estimated3. Despite being banned in 2002, illegal driftnetting is intense and widespread throughout the Mediterranean Sea, e.g. fleets from Algeria, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, among others, continue to fish illegally with pelagic driftnets4, and thus is likely to be an important and largely hidden source of mortality for sharks.

Historically, the diversity of chondrichthyans was greatest in the western Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the coastal waters of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, which harbour between 57 and 69 species (Figure 4). Diversity is slightly lower in the northwest Mediterranean countries of Spain (including the Balearic Islands), France, Italy, Albania, and Greece. Intermediate levels of diversity were found in the central Mediterranean countries of Libya, Malta, the Italian island of Sicily, and the coastal waters of the countries bordering the Adriatic and Aegean Seas.

More recently, there has been a significant decline in species richness throughout the Mediterranean Sea due to increasing threats and local extinctions. Historically,the number of threatened specieswas very high with as many as 33 to 38 threatened species found in 100 km2 cells in the coastal waters of the western and central Mediterranean Sea (Figure 5). Threat levels are also high throughout the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with as many as 8 to 18 threatened species per 100 km2. No country has fewer than 29 threatened species within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

This substantial change in species richness patterns over the past half-century is due to the local extinction of thirteen species from significant parts of the range (Figure 6). Geographically, local extinctions have been most prevalent in the NW Mediterranean waters of Spain, France, and Italy, and in the waters of the countries bordering the Adriatic Sea and northwest African countries. >

Chondrichthyan Crisis in the Mediterranean Sea

IUCN Red List Category Number of Species

Extinct (EX) 0

Regionally Extinct (RE) 0

Critically Endangered (CR) 20

Endangered (EN) 11

Vulnerable (VU) 8

Near Threatened (NT) 9

Least Concern (LC) 12

Data De�cient (DD) 13

Total number of species assessed 73

FIGURE 1Summary of the Red List status of Chondrycthyans in the Mediterranean Sea.

FIGURE 3The primary threats driving Chondrichthyans to extinction in the Mediterranean Sea.

All use

Incidental or accidental mortality(bycatch - large scale)

Incidental or accidental mortality(bycatch - subsistence/small scale)

Intentional mortality (human use- subsistence/small scale)

Intentional mortality(human use - large scale)

Tourism & recreation areas

Oil & gas drilling

Domestic & urban waste water

Proportion of threatened (CR, EN, VU) species impacted by the threat class Number of threatened (CR, EN, VU) species impacted by the threat class

0 20 40 60 80 100

BIOLOGICALRESOURCE USE

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALDEVELOPMENT

ENERGY PRODUCTION & MINING

POLLUTION

THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF DECLINE AND LOCAL EXTINCTION IS OVERFISHING. Most species are taken as retained valuable bycatchin small-scale and large-scale trawland net multispecies fisheries

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 3.03.1 - 5.05.1 - 7.07.1 - 9.09.1 - 12.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 3.03.1 - 5.05.1 - 7.07.1 - 9.09.1 - 12.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 2Distribution of Data Deficient Chondrichthyanswithin the Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 12.012.1 - 29.029.1 - 46.046.1 - 57.057.1 - 69.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 12.012.1 - 29.029.1 - 46.046.1 - 57.057.1 - 69.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 4Historical species richness of Chondrichthyanswithin the Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 8.08.1 - 18.018.1 - 28.028.1 - 33.033.1 - 38.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 5Distribution of threatened (CR, EN, and VU) Chondrichthyans within the Mediterranean Sea. 30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 8.08.1 - 18.018.1 - 28.028.1 - 33.033.1 - 38.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1.0 - 2.02.1 - 4.44.1 - 6.06.1 - 9.09.1 - 13.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 6Extinct and Possibly Extinct species in the Mediterranean Sea, showing thatlocal extinctions have been most prevalent in the NW Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1.0 - 2.02.1 - 4.44.1 - 6.06.1 - 9.09.1 - 13.0

Species2per 100 km

Squatinaoculata© Marc Dando /Shark Trust

* This table does not include the four vagrant or Lessepsian migrant species that have been considered Not Applicable (NA) for the Mediterranean region

Squatina squatina © Marc Dando / Shark Trust

There is NO SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT in the status of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans more than a decade since they were fi rst assessed

Angular Rough Shark, Oxynotus centrina© Tahsin Ceylan

Spiny Butterfly Ray,Gymnura altavela© Tahsin Ceylan

An analysis of threat levels across all sharks, rays and chimaeras has revealed the Mediterranean Sea as a key hotspot of extinction risk1. Seventy seven species are recorded from the Mediterranean Sea, however of these, four species are considered to be either vagrant or probably vagrant, or Lessepsian immigrants from the Red Sea; they are the Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna), the Reticulate Whipray (Himantura uarnak), the Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) and the Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). These four species have been excluded as Not Applicable for the Mediterranean region. Three species are endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and found nowhere else – Maltese Skate (Leucoraja melitensis; CR), Rough Skate (Raja radula; EN), and the Speckled Skate (Raja polystigma; LC). More than half of the species assessed, 39 of 73 species, are regionally threatened; 31 are most imperilled in the Critically Endangered (20 species) and Endangered (11) categories (Figure 1). On a global scale, of the 20 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras that have been assessed as Critically Endangered, seven have some part of their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. Of the other 13 regionally CR species, the Mediterranean Sea part of their population is more threatened than the remainder of their global range.

The level of threat may be worse because uncertainty in species status remains moderately high in the Mediterranean Sea; of the 73 assessed species 13 remain Data Defi cient. Status uncertainty tends to be greatest along North African coasts, emphasizing the need for further research in this part of the Mediterranean region where species richness was also greatest (Figure 2). Although there are synoptic research surveys throughout the northern coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea, there are no population time-series available from North African waters. By assuming varying fractions of the Data Defi cient species are threatened, the overall level of threat ranges from 53% (if none of the DD species are threatened) to 71% if all DD species are threatened. Up to two-thirds of Chondrichthyans may be threatened, the mid-point estimate suggests 65% of extant species for which suffi cient data are available are threatened.

Furthermore, there is no sign of improvement in the status of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans more than a decade since they were fi rst assessed. We can track changes in status of Chondrichthyans by comparing these fi ndings to the fi rst Mediterranean Sea Red List assessment in 20072 to this most recent assessment in 2016. There were no genuine improvements in status for the 73, whereas the status of 11 species worsened by at least one Red List Category.

At least half of the rays (50%, 16 of 32 species) in the Mediterranean Sea face an elevated risk of extinction, as well as 54% of sharks (22 of 41), whereas the only chimaera species (Chimaera monstrosa) is considered Least Concern in these waters. Of a total 27 chondrichthyan Families occurring in the Mediterranean Sea, 74% (20 Families, 39 species) have at least one species listed as threatened, 52% (14 Families, 24 species) of which have all species listed as threatened. Examples of Families with all species threatened are the thresher sharks (Family Alopiidae), the Angel Sharks (Squatinidae), and the Guitarfi shes (Rhinobatidae). Of the remaining 45% of species in the region, 13 are Data Defi cient (one of which is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea), nine Near Threatened, and 12 Least Concern. When the Mediterranean Sea Chondrichthyans were fi rst assessed2 18 species were considered DD, only seven of which are still DD, representing signifi cant knowledge improvement between assessments.

The principal driver of decline and local extinction is overfi shing. Most species are taken as retained valuable bycatch in small-scale and large-scale trawl and net multispecies fi sheries (Figure 3). Oceanic pelagic sharks are taken as retained secondary bycatch in longline fi sheries targeting swordfi shes and tunas. More recently, there is concern over the escalating targeting of pelagic sharks as tunas and swordfi shes are increasingly regulated. The status of several pelagic sharks has worsened, including: Basking Shark, White Shark, Blue Shark, and Smooth Hammerhead Sharks. Bycatch volumes and species composition are poorly documented and data are rarely incorporated into national and international (FAO) statistics, therefore numbers of sharks caught as bycatch can only be crudely estimated3. Despite being banned in 2002, illegal driftnetting is intense and widespread throughout the Mediterranean Sea, e.g. fl eets from Algeria, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, among others, continue to fi sh illegally with pelagic driftnets4, and thus is likely to be an important and largely hidden source of mortality for sharks.

Historically, the diversity of chondrichthyans was greatest in the western Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the coastal waters of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, which harbour between 57 and 69 species (Figure 4). Diversity is slightly lower in the northwest Mediterranean countries of Spain (including the Balearic Islands), France, Italy, Albania, and Greece. Intermediate levels of diversity were found in the central Mediterranean countries of Libya, Malta, the Italian island of Sicily, and the coastal waters of the countries bordering the Adriatic and Aegean Seas.

More recently, there has been a signifi cant decline in species richness throughout the Mediterranean Sea due to increasing threats and local extinctions. Historically, the number of threatened species was very high with as many as 33 to 38 threatened species found in 100 km2 cells in the coastal waters of the western and central Mediterranean Sea (Figure 5). Threat levels are also high throughout the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with as many as 8 to 18 threatened species per 100 km2. No country has fewer than 29 threatened species within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

This substantial change in species richness patterns over the past half-century is due to the local extinction of thirteen species from signifi cant parts of the range (Figure 6). Geographically, local extinctions have been most prevalent in the NW Mediterranean waters of Spain, France, and Italy, and in the waters of the countries bordering the Adriatic Sea and northwest African countries. >

Chondrichthyan Crisis in the Mediterranean Sea

IUCN Red List Category Number of Species

Extinct (EX) 0

Regionally Extinct (RE) 0

Critically Endangered (CR) 20

Endangered (EN) 11

Vulnerable (VU) 8

Near Threatened (NT) 9

Least Concern (LC) 12

Data De� cient (DD) 13

Total number of species assessed 73

FIGURE 1Summary of the Red List status of Chondrycthyans in the Mediterranean Sea.

FIGURE 3The primary threats driving Chondrichthyans to extinction in the Mediterranean Sea.

All use

Incidental or accidental mortality (bycatch - large scale)

Incidental or accidental mortality (bycatch - subsistence/small scale)

Intentional mortality (human use - subsistence/small scale)

Intentional mortality (human use - large scale)

Tourism & recreation areas

Oil & gas drilling

Domestic & urban waste water

Proportion of threatened (CR, EN, VU) species impacted by the threat class Number of threatened (CR, EN, VU) species impacted by the threat class

0 20 40 60 80 100

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE USE

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ENERGY PRODUCTION & MINING

POLLUTION

THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF DECLINE AND LOCAL EXTINCTION IS OVERFISHING. Most species are taken as retained valuable bycatch in small-scale and large-scale trawl and net multispecies fi sheries

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 3.03.1 - 5.05.1 - 7.07.1 - 9.09.1 - 12.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 3.03.1 - 5.05.1 - 7.07.1 - 9.09.1 - 12.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 2Distribution of Data Defi cient Chondrichthyans within the Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 12.012.1 - 29.029.1 - 46.046.1 - 57.057.1 - 69.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 12.012.1 - 29.029.1 - 46.046.1 - 57.057.1 - 69.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 4Historical species richness of Chondrichthyans within the Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 8.08.1 - 18.018.1 - 28.028.1 - 33.033.1 - 38.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 5Distribution of threatened (CR, EN, and VU) Chondrichthyans within the Mediterranean Sea. 30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1 - 8.08.1 - 18.018.1 - 28.028.1 - 33.033.1 - 38.0

Species2per 100 km

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1.0 - 2.02.1 - 4.44.1 - 6.06.1 - 9.09.1 - 13.0

Species2per 100 km

FIGURE 6Extinct and Possibly Extinct species in the Mediterranean Sea, showing that local extinctions have been most prevalent in the NW Mediterranean Sea.

30°E20°E10°E0°

45°N

40°N

35°N

30°N

25°N 0 500 1,000250 km

1.0 - 2.02.1 - 4.44.1 - 6.06.1 - 9.09.1 - 13.0

Species2per 100 km

Squatina oculata © Marc Dando /Shark Trust

* This table does not include the four vagrant or Lessepsian migrant species that have been considered Not Applicable (NA) for the Mediterranean region

Squatina squatina © Marc Dando / Shark Trust

There is NO SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT in the status of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans more than a decade since they were fi rst assessed

Angular Rough Shark, Oxynotus centrina© Tahsin Ceylan

Spiny Butterfl y Ray, Gymnura altavela © Tahsin Ceylan

The Conservation Status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in the Mediterranean Sea

> Despite our rapidly improved understanding of their widespread overexploitation in the Mediterranean basin5,6, no effective chondrichthyan-focused management measures have been successfully implemented, nor enforced. Stock assessments are underway, however assessments are not management measures, but essential precursors to set catch limits for those more productive species that could be brought into sustainability. In 2010 and 2011 the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the regional � sheries management organisation for the Mediterranean Sea, adopted ad hoc measures to reduce the bycatch of pelagic sharks such as Thresher, Mako and Hammerhead sharks. In 2012, the GFCM banned � nning practices in the Mediterranean and Black seas and also prohibited the capture and sale of the sharks and rays species listed in Annex II of the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD) Protocol of the Barcelona Convention. In 2010-2013 the GFCM carried out a three-year research programme to improve the knowledge and assess the status of elasmobranchs in the region, and it continues to work in close collaboration with the regional experts to contrast sharks and rays populations’ decline. However only a few of its Parties have taken concrete domestic action to implement these recommendations. Prohibitions on catch, such as required for the species listed on the Barcelona Convention, should be urgently implemented to avoid further declines and extinctions. The IUCN Shark Specialist Group and the Shark Trust are working together to ensure implementation of protections for all three species of Angel Shark.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

IUCN Centre for Mediterranean CooperationMarie Curie, 22. 29590 - Campanillas (Málaga) Spainiucnmed@ iucn.org | Tel +34 95 202 84 30 | Fax +34 95 202 81 45www.iucn.org/mediterranean

Core support to the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by:

REFERENCES

1. Dulvy, N.K. et al. 2014. Extinction risk and conservation of the world’s sharks and rays. eLife 3: e00590.

2. Cavanagh, R.D. and Gibson, C. 2007. Overview of the Conservation Status of Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea. IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Malaga, Spain.

3. Camhi, M.D., Fowler, S.L., Musick, J.A., Bräutigam, A. and Fordham, S.V. 1998. Sharks and their relatives: ecology and conservation. IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

4. Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara, G. 2014. Sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in the Mediterranean Sea: a summary of status, threats, and conservation recommendations. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 24: 4-10.

5. Vasilakopoulos, P., Maravelias, C.D. and Tserpes, G. 2014. The Alarming Decline of Mediterranean Fish Stocks. Current Biology 24(14): 1643-1648.

6. Osio, G.C., Orio, A. and Millar, C.P. 2015. Assessing the vulnerability of Mediterranean demersal stocks and predicting exploitation status of un-assessed stocks. Fisheries Research 171: 110-121.

CITATION: Dulvy, N.K., Allen, D.J., Ralph, G.M. and Walls, R.H.L. (2016). The conservation status of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in the Mediterranean Sea [Brochure]. IUCN, Malaga, Spain.

AUTHORS

Nicholas K. Dulvy, IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.

David J. Allen, IUCN Global Species Programme, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Gina M. Ralph, IUCN Global Species Programme, Marine Biodiversity Unit, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, United States.

Rachel H.L. Walls, IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.

©2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature

Sandbar Shark, Carcharhius plumbeus © Tahsin Ceylan

MEDITERRANEAN SHARKS AND RAYS FACE AN EXTINCTION CRISIS

At least 53% of the sharks, rays and chimaeras native to the Mediterranean Sea are at risk of extinction and require urgent action to conserve their populations and habitats.

This publication summarizes the outcomes of a signi� cant collaboration between the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, the IUCN Global Species Programme and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group who, together with experts from across the Mediterranean region, have worked to bring together available information on the species of Chondrichthyans found in the Mediterranean Sea and produce assessments for the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM.

This assessment was undertaken through the Mediterranean Red List Initiative, which is coordinated by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

Bullray, Pteromylaeus bovinus © La Ciutat De Les Arts I Les Ciències, Valencia

Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias © Peter Verhoog / Dutch Shark Society

Rough Skate,Raja radula © Tahsin Ceylan

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Qui

mer

a

FR

Chi

mèr

e co

mm

une

RA

YS

OR

DE

R: R

AJI

FO

RM

ES

FA

MIL

YS

CIE

NT

IFIC

NA

ME

A

UT

HO

RIT

YM

ED

ITE

RR

AN

EA

N R

ED

LIS

T

CA

TE

GO

RY

& C

RIT

ER

IAC

OM

MO

N N

AM

ES

EN

: EN

GL

ISH

E

S: E

SP

AÑ

OL

FR

: FR

AN

ÇA

ISIN

TE

RN

AT

ION

AL

LE

GA

L IN

ST

RU

ME

NT

S

Das

yatid

ae

Da

syat

is c

en

tro

ura

(Mitc

hill,

181

5) V

ulne

rab

le A

2dE

N R

ough

tail

Stin

gray

E

S R

aya

Látig

o Is

leña

F

R P

aste

nagu

e É

pin

euse

Da

syat

is m

arm

ora

ta (S

tein

dac

hner

, 189

2) D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N M

arb

led

Stin

gray

E

S R

aya

Látig

o Ja

spea

da

F

R P

aste

nagu

e M

arb

rée

Da

syat

is p

ast

inac

a (L

inna

eus,

175

8) V

ulne

rab

le A

2dE

N C

omm

on S

tingr

ay

ES

Ray

a Lá

tigo

Com

ún, C

huch

o

FR

Rai

e P

aste

nagu

eH

ima

ntu

ra u

arn

ak

(Gm

elin

, 178

9) N

ot A

pp

licab

leE

N R

etic

ulat

e W

hip

ray,

Hon

eyco

mb

Stin

gray

E

S C

hup

are

Ova

l F

R P

aste

nagu

e In

die

nne

Pte

rop

laty

tryg

on

vio

lace

a (B

onap

arte

, 183

2) L

east

Con

cern

EN

Pel

agic

Stin

gray

E

S R

aya

Látig

o V

iole

ta, R

aya

Neg

ra

FR

Pas

tena

gue

Vio

lett

eTa

en

iuro

ps

gra

bat

a (G

eoff

roy

Sai

nt-H

ilaire

, 181

7) D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N R

ound

Fan

tail

Stin

gray

E

S C

hup

are

Red

ond

o, P

astin

aca

Red

ond

a

FR

Pas

tena

gue

Afr

icai

ne, P

aste

nagu

e R

ond

eG

ymnu

ridae

Gym

nu

ra a

ltav

ela

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Sp

iny

But

terfl

y R

ay

ES

Ray

a M

arip

osa,

Man

telli

na

FR

Rai

e-p

apill

on É

pin

euse

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Mob

ulid

aeM

ob

ula

mo

bu

lar

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) E

ndan

gere

d A

2dE

N G

iant

Dev

il R

ay

ES

Man

ta, M

anta

Mob

ula

F

R D

iab

le d

e M

er M

édite

rran

éen,

Man

te

CM

S: A

pp

end

ix I

& II

/ C

ITE

S:

Ap

pen

dix

II /

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Myl

iob

atid

aeM

ylio

bat

is a

qu

ila (L

inna

eus,

175

8) V

ulne

rab

le A

2bE

N C

omm

on E

agle

Ray

E

S Á

guila

Mar

ina

F

R H

irond

elle

, Aig

le C

omm

unP

tero

myl

ae

us

bo

vin

us

(Geo

ffro

y S

aint

-Hila

ire, 1

817)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2cE

N B

ullra

y

ES

Pez

Ob

isp

o

FR

Aig

le V

ache

tte

Pris

tidae

Pri

stis

pe

ctin

ata

Lath

am, 1

794

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2b; D

EN

Sm

allto

oth

Saw

fi sh

E

S P

ez S

ierr

a

FR

Poi

sson

-sci

e Ti

den

tC

MS

: App

endi

x I &

II /

CIT

ES: A

ppen

dix

I /

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Pri

stis

pri

stis

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2b; D

EN

Lar

geto

oth

Saw

fi sh,

Com

mon

Saw

fi sh

E

S P

ez S

ierr

a, P

ez S

ierr

a C

omún

FR

Poi

sson

-sci

e C

omm

unC

MS

: App

endi

x I &

II /

CIT

ES: A

ppen

dix

I /

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Raj

idae

Dip

turu

s b

atis

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bE

N C

omm

on S

kate

E

S N

orie

ga, R

aya

Nor

uega

F

R P

oche

teau

Gris

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Dip

turu

s o

xyri

nch

us

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Nea

r Th

reat

ened

EN

Lon

gnos

ed S

kate

E

S P

icón

, Ray

a P

icud

a

FR

Poc

hete

au N

oir

Le

uco

raja

cir

cula

ris

(Cou

ch, 1

838)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bcd

EN

San

dy

Ska

te

ES

Ray

a Fa

lsa

Vela

F

R R

aie

Circ

ulai

reB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Le

uco

raja

fu

llon

ica

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Sha

gree

n S

kate

E

S R

aya

Car

dad

ora

F

R R

aie

Cha

rdon

Le

uco

raja

me

lite

nsi

s (C

lark

, 192

6) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

cd+

3bcd

EN

Mal

tese

Ska

te, M

alte

se R

ay

ES

Ray

a d

e M

alta

F

R R

aie

de

Mal

te, R

aie

Mal

tais

eB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Le

uco

raja

na

evu

s (M

ülle

r &

Hen

le, 1

841)

Nea

r Th

reat

ened

EN

Cuc

koo

Ska

te

ES

Ray

a S

antia

gues

a

FR

Rai

e Fl

eurie

Ma

laco

raja

cla

vata

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Nea

r Th

reat

ened

EN

Tho

rnb

ack

Ska

te

ES

Ray

a d

e C

lavo

s, R

aya

F

R R

aie

Bou

clée

Ra

ja a

ste

ria

s D

elar

oche

, 180

9 N

ear

Thre

aten

edE

N S

tarr

y S

kate

E

S R

aya

Est

rella

da,

Ray

a

FR

Rai

e É

toilé

eR

aja

bra

chyu

ra L

afon

t, 18

71 N

ear

Thre

aten

edE

N B

lond

e S

kate

, Blo

nde

Ray

E

S R

aya

Boc

a d

e R

osa

F

R R

aie

Bla

nche

, Rai

e Li

sse

Ra

ja m

ira

letu

s Li

nnae

us, 1

758

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N B

row

n S

kate

E

S R

aya

de

Esp

ejos

F

R R

aie

Miro

irR

aja

mo

nta

gu

i Fow

ler,

1910

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N S

pot

ted

Ska

te, S

pot

ted

Ray

E

S R

aya

Pin

tad

a

FR

Rai

e D

ouce

Ra

ja p

oly

stig

ma

Reg

an, 1

923

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N S

pec

kled

Ska

te, S

pec

kled

Ray

E

S R

aya

Man

chad

a

FR

Rai

e Ta

chet

éeR

aja

ra

du

la D

elar

oche

, 180

9 E

ndan

gere

d A

4bE

N R

ough

Ska

te

ES

Ray

a Á

sper

a

FR

Rai

e R

ape

Ra

ja u

nd

ula

ta L

acep

ède,

180

2 N

ear

Thre

aten

edE

N U

ndul

ate

Ska

te, U

ndul

ate

Ray

E

S R

aya

Mos

aico

F

R R

aie

Bru

nett

eR

ost

rora

ja a

lba

(Lac

epèd

e, 1

803)

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N W

hite

Ska

te

ES

Ray

a B

ram

ante

F

R R

aie

Bla

nche

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Rhi

nob

atid

aeG

lau

cost

egu

s ce

mic

ulu

s (G

eoffr

oy S

aint

-Hila

ire, 1

817)

End

ange

red

A3b

dE

N B

lack

chin

Gui

tarfi

sh

E

S G

uita

rra

de

Mor

ro N

egro

F

R G

uita

re d

e M

er F

ouis

seus

eB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Rh

ino

bat

os

rhin

ob

ato

s (L

inna

eus,

175

8) E

ndan

gere

d A

2bE

N C

omm

on G

uita

rfi s

h

ES

Pez

Gui

tarr

a, G

uita

rra

F

R G

uita

re d

e M

er C

omm

une

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Rhi

nopt

erid

aeR

hin

op

tera

ma

rgin

ata

(Geo

ffro

y S

aint

-Hila

ire, 1

817)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Lus

itani

an C

owno

se R

ay

ES

Gav

ilán

Lusi

táni

co, A

rzob

isp

o

FR

Mou

rine

Lusi

tani

enne

Torp

edin

idae

Tetr

on

arc

e n

ob

ilia

na

(Bon

apar

te, 1

835)

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N G

reat

Tor

pedo

Ray

, Ele

ctric

Ray

E

S T

rem

ielg

a N

egra

, Tor

pedo

del

Atlá

ntic

o

FR

Tor

pille

Noi

reTo

rpe

do

ma

rmo

rata

Ris

so, 1

810

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N S

pot

ted

Torp

edo

E

S T

emb

lad

era

F

R T

orp

ille

Mar

bré

eTo

rpe

do

to

rpe

do

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N C

omm

on T

orp

edo

Ray

E

S T

emb

lad

era,

Tre

mie

lga,

Tre

mol

ina

Com

ún

FR

Tor

pill

e O

cellé

e

1/4

The

Con

serv

atio

n S

tatu

s of

Sha

rks,

Ray

s an

d C

him

aera

s in

the

Med

iterra

nean

Sea

Thi

s 20

16 r

egio

nal a

sses

smen

t of

the

Med

iterr

anea

n S

ea in

clud

ed 7

3 sp

ecie

s of

sha

rks,

ray

s an

d c

him

aera

s. F

our

sp

ecie

s (C

arch

arhi

nus

bre

vip

inna

, H

iman

tura

uar

nak,

Sp

hyrn

a m

oka

rran

and

Sp

hyrn

a le

win

i) ar

e no

t el

igib

le fo

r as

sess

men

t in

the

Med

iterr

anea

n re

gio

n as

the

y ar

e co

nsid

ered

to

be

eith

er v

agra

nts

or

Less

epsi

an im

mig

rant

s (fr

om

the

Red

Sea

). T

hree

sp

ecie

s (L

euco

raja

mel

itens

is, R

aja

po

lyst

igm

a an

d R

aja

rad

ula)

are

co

nsid

ered

end

emic

to

the

Med

iterr

anea

n S

ea; t

he s

pec

ies

nam

e of

the

se e

ndem

ic r

ays

is h

ighl

ight

ed in

red

in t

he t

able

bel

ow.

© 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature

SH

AR

KS

OR

DE

R: C

AR

CH

AR

HIN

IFO

RM

ES

FAM

ILY

SC

IEN

TIF

IC N

AM

E

AU

TH

OR

ITY

ME

DIT

ER

RA

NE

AN

RE

D L

IST

C

AT

EG

OR

Y &

CR

ITE

RIA

CO

MM

ON

NA

ME

SE

N: E

NG

LIS

H

ES

: ES

PA

ÑO

L F

R: F

RA

NÇ

AIS

INT

ER

NA

TIO

NA

L L

EG

AL

INS

TR

UM

EN

TS

Car

char

hini

dae

Ca

rch

arh

inu

s a

ltim

us

(Sp

ringe

r, 19

50)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Big

nose

Sha

rk

ES

Tib

urón

Bab

oso

F

R R

equi

n B

abos

seC

arc

ha

rhin

us

bra

chyu

rus

(Gün

ther

, 187

0) D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N C

opp

er S

hark

E

S T

ibur

ón C

obriz

o

FR

Req

uin

Cui

vre

Ca

rch

arh

inu

s b

revi

pin

na

(Mül

ler

& H

enle

, 183

9) N

ot A

pp

licab

leE

N S

pin

ner

Sha

rk

ES

Tib

urón

Ale

ta N

egra

F

R R

equi

n Ti

sser

and

Ca

rch

arh

inu

s lim

bat

us

(Mül

ler

& H

enle

, 183

9) D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N B

lack

tip S

hark

E

S T

ibur

ón d

e P

unta

s N

egra

s, T

ibur

ón, M

acui

ra

FR

Req

uin

Bor

dé

Ca

rch

arh

inu

s o

bsc

uru

s (L

esue

ur, 1

818)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Dus

ky S

hark

E

S T

ibur

ón A

rene

ro

FR

Req

uin

de

Sab

leC

arc

ha

rhin

us

plu

mb

eu

s (N

ard

o, 1

827)

End

ange

red

A4d

EN

San

db

ar S

hark

E

S T

ibur

ón T

rozo

F

R R

equi

n G

risB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

III

Pri

on

ace

gla

uc

a (L

inna

eus,

175

8) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N B

lue

Sha

rk

ES

Tib

urón

Azu

l, Ti

ntor

era

F

R P

eau

Ble

ueB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

III

Scy

liorh

inid

ae

Ga

leu

s at

lan

ticu

s (V

ailla

nt, 1

888)

Nea

r Th

reat

ened

EN

Atla

ntic

Saw

tail

Cat

shar

k

ES

Ola

yo A

tlánt

ico,

Pin

tarr

oja

Atlá

ntic

a

FR

Chi

en A

tlant

ique

Ga

leu

s m

ela

sto

mu

s R

afi n

esq

ue, 1

810

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N B

lack

mou

th C

atsh

ark

E

S P

inta

rroj

a B

ocan

egra

F

R C

hien

Esp

agno

lS

cylio

rhin

us

ca

nic

ula

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N S

mal

l Sp

otte

d C

atsh

ark

E

S P

inta

rroj

a

FR

Pet

ite R

ouss

ette

Scy

liorh

inu

s st

ella

ris

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Nea

r Th

reat

ened

EN

Nur

seho

und

E

S A

litán

F

R G

rand

e R

ouss

ette

Sp

hyrn

idae

Sp

hyr

na

lew

ini (

Grif

fi th

& S

mith

, 183

4) N

ot A

pp

licab

leE

N S

callo

ped

Ham

mer

head

E

S C

ornu

da,

Tib

urón

Mar

tillo

F

R R

equi

n-m

arte

au H

alic

orne

CIT

ES

: Ap

pen

dix

II /

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Sp

hyr

na

mo

karr

an

(Rüp

pel

l, 18

37)

Not

Ap

plic

able

EN

Gre

at H

amm

erhe

ad

ES

Cor

nud

a G

igan

te, T

ibur

ón M

artil

lo

FR

Gra

nd R

equi

n-m

arte

auC

ITE

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/ B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Sp

hyr

na

zyg

ae

na

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Sm

ooth

Ham

mer

head

E

S C

ornu

da,

Tib

urón

Mar

tillo

F

R R

equi

n-m

arte

au C

omm

unC

ITE

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/ B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Tria

kid

ae

Ga

leo

rhin

us

ga

leu

s (L

inna

eus,

175

8) V

ulne

rab

le A

2bd

EN

Top

e

ES

Caz

ón

FR

Req

uin-

hâB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Mu

ste

lus

ast

eri

as

Clo

que

t, 18

19 V

ulne

rab

le A

2bd

EN

Sta

rry

Sm

ooth

houn

d

ES

Mus

ola

Den

tud

a

FR

Ém

isso

le t

ache

tée

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

I

Mu

ste

lus

mu

ste

lus

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Vul

nera

ble

A2b

dE

N C

omm

on S

moo

thho

und

E

S M

usol

a

FR

Ém

isso

le li

sse

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

I

Mu

ste

lus

pu

nct

ula

tus

Ris

so, 1

827

Vul

nera

ble

A4d

EN

Bla

cksp

otte

d S

moo

thho

und

E

S M

usol

a, M

usol

a P

imie

nta

F

R É

mis

sole

liss

eB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

III

OR

DE

R: H

EX

AN

CH

IFO

RM

ES

Hex

anch

idae

He

ptr

an

chia

s p

erl

o (B

onna

terr

e, 1

788)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Sha

rpno

se S

even

gill

Sha

rk

ES

Cañ

abot

a B

ocad

ulce

, Boc

adul

ce

FR

Req

uin

Per

lon

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

I

Hex

an

chu

s g

rise

us

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) L

east

Con

cern

EN

Blu

ntno

se S

ixgi

ll S

hark

E

S C

añab

ota

Gris

F

R R

equi

n G

riset

Hex

an

chu

s n

aka

mu

rai T

eng,

196

2 D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N B

igey

ed S

ixgi

ll S

hark

E

S C

añab

ota

Ojig

rand

e

FR

Req

uin

Vach

eO

RD

ER

: LA

MN

IFO

RM

ES

Alo

piid

aeA

lop

ias

sup

erc

ilio

sus

Low

e, 1

841

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N B

igey

e Th

resh

er S

hark

E

S Z

orro

Ojó

n

FR

Ren

ard

à G

ros

Yeux

CM

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/ C

ITE

S: A

pp

end

ix II

Alo

pia

s vu

lpin

us

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Com

mon

Thr

eshe

r S

hark

E

S Z

orro

F

R R

enar

dC

MS

: Ap

pen

dix

II /

CIT

ES

: Ap

pen

dix

II /

B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

III

Cet

orhi

nid

aeC

eto

rhin

us

ma

xim

us

(Gun

neru

s, 1

765)

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N B

aski

ng S

hark

E

S T

ibur

ón P

ereg

rino

F

R R

equi

n P

èler

inC

MS

: Ap

pen

dix

I &

II /

CIT

ES

: A

pp

end

ix II

/ B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Lam

nid

ae

Ca

rch

aro

do

n c

arc

ha

ria

s (L

inna

eus,

175

8) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2d

EN

Gre

at W

hite

Sha

rk

ES

Tib

urón

Bla

nco

F

R G

rand

Req

uin

Bla

ncC

MS

: Ap

pen

dix

I &

II /

CIT

ES

: A

pp

end

ix II

/ B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Isu

rus

oxy

rin

chu

s R

afi n

esq

ue, 1

810

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Sho

rtfi n

Mak

o

ES

Tib

urón

Mak

o, M

arra

jo

FR

Req

uin

Mak

o, R

equi

n-ta

upe

Ble

uC

MS

: Ap

pen

dix

II /

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Isu

rus

pa

ucu

s G

uita

rt, 1

966

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Lon

gfi n

Mak

o

ES

Mar

rajo

Car

ite, M

arra

jo N

egro

F

R P

etit

Req

uin

Taup

e, P

etit

Taup

eL

am

na

na

sus

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N P

orb

eagl

e

ES

Mar

rajo

Sar

din

ero,

Cai

lón

F

R R

equi

n-ta

upe

Com

mun

CM

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/ C

ITE

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Od

onta

spid

idae

Ca

rch

ari

as

tau

rus

Rafi

nes

que

, 181

0 C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

C2a

(ii)

EN

San

d Ti

ger

Sha

rk

ES

Tib

urón

Tor

o, T

oro

Bac

ota

F

R R

equi

n Ta

urea

uB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Od

on

tasp

is f

ero

x (R

isso

, 181

0) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

cdE

N S

mal

ltoot

h S

and

Tige

r

ES

Sol

rayo

, Mon

stru

o d

e M

alp

elo,

Tib

urón

Lis

o

FR

Req

uin

Féro

ceB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

OR

DE

R: S

QU

AL

IFO

RM

ES

Cen

trop

horid

aeC

en

tro

ph

oru

s g

ran

ulo

sus

(Blo

ch &

Sch

neid

er, 1

801)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

4bE

N G

ulp

er S

hark

E

S Q

uelv

acho

, Gel

ve

FR

Sq

uale

-cha

grin

Com

mun

, Sq

uale

-cha

grin

Aig

uille

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

I

Dal

atiid

aeD

ala

tia

s lic

ha

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) V

ulne

rab

le A

3d+

4dE

N K

itefi n

Sha

rk

ES

Car

ocho

, Lija

F

R S

qua

le L

iche

Ech

inor

hini

dae

Ech

ino

rhin

us

bru

cus

(Bon

nate

rre,

178

8) E

ndan

gere

d A

2bcd

EN

Bra

mb

le S

hark

E

S P

ez C

lavo

F

R S

qua

le B

oucl

éE

tmop

terid

aeE

tmo

pte

rus

spin

ax

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Lea

st C

once

rnE

N V

elve

t Bel

ly L

ante

rnsh

ark

E

S N

egrit

o, T

ibur

ón L

inte

rna

Vellu

do

F

R S

agre

Com

mun

Oxy

notid

aeO

xyn

otu

s ce

ntr

ina

(Lin

naeu

s, 1

758)

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bd

EN

Ang

ular

Rou

gh S

hark

E

S C

erd

o M

arin

o

FR

Cen

trin

e C

omm

une

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Som

nios

idae

Ce

ntr

osc

ymn

us

coe

lole

pis

B

arb

osa

du

Boc

age

& d

e B

rito

Cap

ello

, 186

4 L

east

Con

cern

EN

Por

tugu

ese

Dog

fi sh

E

S P

ailo

na

FR

Pai

lona

Com

mun

So

mn

iosu

s ro

stra

tus

(Ris

so, 1

827)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Litt

le S

leep

er S

hark

E

S T

ollo

Bor

eal,

Tib

urón

Dor

miló

n

FR

Lai

mar

gue

de

la M

édite

rran

ée

Sq

ualid

aeS

qu

alu

s ac

an

thia

s Li

nnae

us, 1

758

End

ange

red

A2b

dE

N S

pin

y D

ogfi s

h, P

icke

d D

ogfi s

h

ES

Mie

lga,

Gal

lud

o

FR

Aig

uilla

t Com

mun

CM

S: A

pp

end

ix II

/ B

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

III

Sq

ua

lus

bla

invi

lle (R

isso

, 182

7) D

ata

Defi

cie

ntE

N L

ongn

ose

Sp

urd

og

ES

Gal

lud

o

FR

Aig

uilla

t Coq

Sq

ua

lus

me

ga

lop

s (M

acle

ay, 1

881)

Dat

a D

efi c

ient

EN

Sho

rtno

se S

pur

dog

E

S G

allu

do

Ñat

o

FR

Aig

uilla

t Nez

Cou

rtO

RD

ER

: SQ

UA

TIN

IFO

RM

ES

Sq

uatin

idae

Sq

uat

ina

acu

leat

a C

uvie

r, 18

29 C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

cdE

N S

awb

ack

Ang

elsh

ark

E

S A

ngel

ote

Esp

inos

o, A

ngel

ote

Esp

inud

o

FR

Ang

e d

e M

er É

pin

eux

BC

N C

onv.

: Ann

ex II

Sq

uat

ina

ocu

lata

Bon

apar

te, 1

840

Crit

ical

ly E

ndan

gere

d A

2bcd

+3c

dE

N S

moo

thb

ack

Ang

el S

hark

E

S P

ez Á

ngel

F

R A

nge

de

Mer

Oce

lléB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

Sq

uat

ina

squ

atin

a (L

inna

eus,

175

8) C

ritic

ally

End

ange

red

A2b

cd+

3dE

N A

ngel

shar

k

ES

Pez

Áng

el

FR

Ang

e d

e M

er C

omm

unB

CN

Con

v.: A

nnex

II

A n

umb

er o

f sp

ecie

s ar

e p

rote

cted

und

er A

pp

end

ix I

(End

ang

ered

mig

rato

ry s

pec

ies)

and

/or

II (M

igra

tory

sp

ecie

s co

nser

ved

thr

oug

h A

gre

emen

ts) o

f the

Co

nven

tion

on

Mig

rato

ry S

pec

ies

(CM

S),

Ap

pen

dix

I (S

pec

ies

thre

aten

ed w

ith e

xtin

ctio

n) o

f CIT

ES

(the

Co

nven

tion

on

Inte

rnat

iona

l Tra

de

in E

ndan

ger

ed S

pec

ies

of W

ild F

auna

and

Flo

ra),

or

und

er A

nnex

II (L

ist o

f End

ang

ered

or

Thr

eate

ned

Sp

ecie

s) o

r III

(Lis

t of S

pec

ies

Who

se

Exp

loita

tion

is R

egul

ated

) of t

he S

PA

/BD

Pro

toco

l (S

pec

ially

Pro

tect

ed A

reas

and

Bio

logi

cal D

iver

sity

in t

he M

edite

rran

ean)

of t

he B

arce

lona

Co

nven

tion

(BC

N C

on

v.).


2/4 SKATES

SKATES in the family Rajidae, particularly the larger bodied species, have suffered severe declines, with evidence of local extinction of two of the very largest

species found in the Mediterranean Sea – the White Skate (Rostroraja alba) and the Common Skate (Dipturus spp.). Here we draw attention to the plight of the Rough Skate (Raja radula), one of the three skates found nowhere else in the world; the Endangered

Rough Skate, like the Critically Endangered Maltese Skate (Leucoraja melitensis) and the Least Concern Speckled Skate (Raja polystigma) are endemic and currently con� rmed only in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Rough Skate is found in coastal waters to 350 m in depth, more commonly at less than 40 m in depth, especially in the western Mediterranean Sea around the Balearic Islands. Like all other skates this species

Endangered Endemic Skates of the Mediterranean Sea

Rough Skate, Raja radula (EN)

© Roberto Pillon

EX

RE

CR

EN

VU

NT

LC

DD

ROUGH SKATE Raja radula

MALTESE SKATE Leucoraja melitensis

lays pairs of 5 cm-long eggs, or ‘mermaids purses’, mainly in spring and summer. The eggs hatch after around four months of development. The maximum size reached is approximately 70 cm in length. Little is known of the age of maturation, however it is inferred that the generation span is around nine years.

The Rough Skate is not exploited or traded commercially but is commonly taken as bycatch of demersal trawl, gillnet, trammel net, bottom longline, and purse seine � sheries, although no species-speci� c catch data are available. For example, in the Balearic Islands this skate is more common in shallow waters where it is taken in: trammel net � sheries targeting Cuttle� sh (Sepia offi cinalis) and bony � sh; gillnet � sheries targeting the European Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) and the Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus); and bottom longline � sheries targeting groupers (Epinephelus spp.) and sea breams (Sparidae). Species-speci� c data are not usually available because landings of skates are grouped as “rays” or “skates”.

According to information provided by the International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean (MEDITS), the Rough Skate was captured in only 21 of 6,336 tows in the northern Mediterranean Sea between 1994 and 1999. There is evidence that the Rough Skate was formerly more abundant

in this region. Further east, in the Aegean Sea, this skate is uncommon and, where present, it appears to have undergone steep declines in the past two decades.

Given that the Rough Skate appears to be endemic to the Mediterranean Sea where it has recently declined in some regions, and ongoing relatively intense � shing pressure overlaps with parts of its range, the Rough Skate was assessed as Endangered based on an estimated decline of >50% over a three-generation period (27 years).

Currently no species-speci� c management or conservation measures are in place for the Rough Skate. It is recommended that catch and trends of this species be monitored and science-based catch limits are set and enforced to halt the decline.

Dulvy, N. and Walls, R. 2015. Leucoraja melitensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T61405A48954483. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-1.RLTS.T61405A48954483.en

Mancusi, C., Morey, G. and Serena, F. 2016. Raja radula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T161339A16527984. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T161339A16527984.en

Endangered Endemic Skates of the Mediterranean Sea


Raja radula © Roberto Pillon

3/4 ANGEL SHARKS

ANGEL SHARKS* (Squatinidae) are among the most threatened families of the chondrichthyans, along with saw� shes (Pristidae) and Guitar� shes (Rhinobatidae).

There are three Angel Shark species present in the Mediterranean Sea: the Angelshark*, the Sawback Angelshark, and the Smoothback Angelshark. These Angel Sharks have broadly similar distributions, ecology and life histories. All three species are Critically Endangered (Ferretti et al. 2016 a,b, Soldo and Bariche 2016) and their populations are decreasing. Most is known of the distribution, ecology and declines of the Angelshark (Squatina squatina) with little detail known of the other two species. All three species are thought to be nearly extinct throughout much of their range in the Mediterranean Sea.Angel Sharks prefer sandy and muddy habitats and can be found close inshore at depths ranging from less than 5 m down to at least 150 m in depth. Angel Sharks are

bottom-dwelling sit-and-wait predators and hence are susceptible to capture because they are found in habitats favoured by trawlers and netters. Like rays, skates and guitar� shes, these � at sharks are highly catchable because their large size at birth means they are retained by even large mesh nets. Angel Sharks were taken as a retained bycatch of trawl, net and longline � sheries, but were also formerly targeted with nets called squanere (Angel Shark nets) in parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Fishing effort of these gears has increased over the last half century leading to the decline and local extinction of many larger-bodied species of skates and rays.The Angelshark Squatina squatina was formerly common and widespread in coastal and continental shelf seas; originally ranging from Scandinavia to northwest Africa (Mauritania and the Canary Islands), including the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The Angelshark reaches at least

The near extinction of the Angel Sharks from the Mediterranean Sea

The Angelshark, Squatina squatina (CR)

© Tom Young

EX

RE

CR

EN

VU

NT

LC

DD

ANGELSHARK Squatina squatina

SAWBACK ANGELSHARK Squatina aculeata

SMOOTHBACK ANGELSHARK Squatina oculata

* The name ‘Angel Shark’ refers to all species within the family Squatinidae, whilst ‘Angelshark’ refers to the species Squatina squatina.

The near extinction of the Angel Sharks from the Mediterranean Sea

The Canary

Islands

Angelshark

workshop

© Jorge

Castellano


183 cm in length, possibly up to 244 cm in the Mediterranean Sea. Angel Sharks give birth to live young, with litter sizes of the Angelshark ranging from 7 to 25 pups after a 10-month long gestation period. Little is known of the lifespan or maturation of the three Angel Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, but the generation span was inferred to be 11 years for S. squatina, 12 years for S. oculata, and 15 years for S. aculeata.

The Angelshark was reportedly common, or at least frequently or regularly recorded in many areas during the 19th and early 20th centuries and its decline and disappearance is well documented. However, in the past few decades not one single individual has been captured in NE Atlantic and Mediterranean scienti� c surveys. Beyond the remaining stronghold of the Canary Islands, only occasional catches are reported from commercial and recreational � shers in the NE Atlantic.

Since 2012 these three Angel Sharks have been listed in Annex II of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Sea (SPA/BD Protocol) of the Barcelona Convention. Subsequently, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean has developed a speci� c recommendation (GFCM/36/2012/3 ) on � sheries management measures for the elasmobranchs species listed in the aforementioned Annex and it states that these species cannot be retained on board, landed, or sold and must be released unharmed and alive.

It remains unclear whether this protection is well enforced as there are reported landings of Angel Sharks in the Mediterranean in recent years. There is a clear need to ensure that protection is enforced and that recovery planning is initiated.

The Angel Shark Project**, the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, and the Shark Trust are working with a number of stakeholders to develop an Angelshark Action Plan for the Canary Islands (focused speci� cally on S. squatina), alongside a wider Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Angel Shark Conservation Strategy.

Ferretti, F., Morey, G., Serena, F., Mancusi, C., Coelho, R.P., Seisay, M., Litvinov, F. and Buscher, E. 2016a. Squatina oculata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T61418A16570000. Downloaded on 15 August 2016.

Ferretti, F., Morey, G., Serena, F., Mancusi, C., Fowler, S.L., Dipper, F. and Ellis, J.R. 2016b. Squatina squatina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T39332A16570809. Downloaded on 15 August 2016.

Soldo, A. and Bariche, M. 2016. Squatina aculeata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T61417A16569265. Downloaded on 15 August 2016.

** The Angel Shark Project is a collaboration between, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Zoological Society of London, and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig.

4/4 GUITARFISHES

TWO SPECIES OF GUITARFISH are found in the Mediterranean Sea and both are listed as Endangered (Bradai and Soldo 2016, Soldo and Bradai 2016):

the Blackchin Guitar� sh (Glaucostegus cemiculus) and the Common Guitar� sh (Rhinobatos rhinobatos). Guitar� shes (Family Rhinobatidae) are amongst the most threatened families of the cartilaginous � shes, along with saw� shes (Pristidae) and Angel Sharks (Squatinidae). Both guitar� shes have broadly similar distributions, ecology and life histories and here we focus on one of the species, the Common Guitar� sh.

The Common Guitar� sh is a large-bodied, bottom-dwelling ray that lives close inshore

ranging from very shallow water below the intertidal zone down to 180 m at the edge of the continental shelf. It lives over sandy and muddy seabeds and feeds on bottom-dwelling � shes and invertebrates. The Common Guitar� sh gives birth to live young in late summer and autumn. Each mother produces around � ve pups (of 30 cm long) each year after a 10 to 12 month long pregnancy. Common Guitar� sh females mature relatively early at an age of four years old and reach a maximum age of 24 years and each generation span is approximately 13.5 years long. Males have a much shorter lifespan, reaching onl

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