Endangered Species
The Class Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, and chimeras) is one of the three lineages of fishes, and the most evolutionary distinct radiation of vertebrates. It has survived at least five mass extinctions in its 420 million year history and has radiated throughout the major marine (and some freshwater) habitats, dominating upper trophic levels and imposing predation risk in many food webs. Chondrichthyans are one of the first major marine fish lineages for which extinction risk has been determined for the entire clade.
1/3 of chondrichthyans are threatened with extinction globally, based on the observed number of threatened species combined with the estimated number of Data Deficient species that are likely to be threatened. Of 1,199 species assessed, 391 (32.6%) are threatened, with 180 (15%) Vulnerable (VU), 121 (10.1%) Endangered (EN), and 90 (7.5%) Critically Endangered (CR). A further 124 species (10.4%) are classified as Near Threatened (NT) and less than half (44.1%, n = 529) are considered Least Concern (LC). Rays are more threatened than previously estimated, with 36.0% (n = 220 of 611) of species now threatened, compared to sharks (31.2%, n = 167 of 536) and chimeras (7.7%, n = 4 of 52).
Information from Dulvy et al. 2021.
CORSIC'ANGE project:
Corsica is the last refuge for Angelsharks (Squatina squatina) in the French Mediterranean Sea. This shark species is Critically Endangered, listed in the Convention of Migratory Species, and is still observed by professional fishers.
With the University or Corsica, the Fishermen Committee of Corsica and WWF France, we are working together to learn more about the ecology of these sharks.
We use Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) methods and Acoustic telemetry to gather critical information on the biology and ecology of this species in Corsica to improve its conservation.
We are also members of the international group Angel Shark Project and collaborate with international researchers.
GUITARPROTECT project:
Acoustic Telemetry and Citizen Monitoring Network for the Last Guitarfish in the Western Mediterranean.
The main objective of this project is to generate a combined network of acoustic telemetry and citizen science in two continuous marine protected areas in the Region of Murcia (Spain) to monitor the distribution and movement patterns of the last individuals of the common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the western Mediterranean. The information generated through the coordination of both networks will be fundamental to identify priority actions in the development of an action plan for the conservation of this species in the Region.
This is part of the PhD thesis of Maria Pozo-Montoro from the University of Murcia (Spain)
You can follow the project on Instagram:
