From land to a depth of 80 meters
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) welcomed a historic milestone announced by the UA: the first systematic mapping in history of areas important for sharks and rays in the Mediterranean has been completed. The effort marks a major step in understanding where these species can thrive and survive within their home waters.
Following months of rigorous research, data collection, and review by a panel of external experts, researchers demonstrated the suitability of these zones for the Mediterranean’s shark and ray communities. Among more than 110 proposals submitted, 65 were accepted from across the basin.
ISRA identified several key sites, including the Murcian coastline from San Pedro del Pinatar to Calblanque and the deeper zone between the south of Alicante and Seco de Palos. These sites are considered essential for the life cycles and habitats of these species.
Image caption: A blue shark in the Mediterranean. © CRAM
The shallowest area approved lies between San Pedro del Pinatar and Calblanque, led by researchers from the Marine Ecology and Conservation Group at Murcia University, with María Pozo-Montoro coordinating both proposals. This work highlights the coastal stretch down to 80 meters and includes the Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas marine reserve, where cooperation among divers, fishermen, and swimmers is strong.
Her photographs and field records were pivotal in demonstrating the area’s importance as a breeding ground for sharks and rays. In other parts of the Mediterranean, some species have diminished or disappeared, underscoring their precarious status and the need for protection. Notable species affected include guitarfish, large-eyed ray, and other coastally dependent groups that have faced significant decline.
Francisca Giménez Casalduero, a professor of Zoology and director at CIMAR of the University of Alicante (Santa Pola Marine Research Center), pioneered a second proposal that expands the study to depths from 300 to 800 meters. This deeper zone features underwater mountains and formations such as Seco de Palos and El Planazo, along with seafloor depressions linked to natural gas emissions and past volcanic activity. These features create unique habitats and highlight the range of ecological niches sharks and rays occupy in the region.
Image caption: The area will contribute to the protection of these species. © Pixabay
This deeper area is especially relevant for deep-sea species including the hairy angler shark, whose ventral photophores generate intense light, and the starry ribbon, an endemic Mediterranean species. The primary aim of ISRA is to place these key zones on the international map, emphasizing their critical role in the survival of sharks and rays that are at risk of extinction in the Mediterranean without urgent action. The work enjoys broad support from researchers who see it as a foundational step toward broader conservation measures and informed management planning. [Citation: ISRA, CIMAR, and University of Alicante researchers]
Risk of extinction due to overfishing remains a central concern. The proposed areas are not regulatory mechanisms themselves but are described as an essential first step to ensuring these oases stay intact for sharks and rays in the Mediterranean. This information gains urgency as countries around the world, including Spain, move toward 2030 targets to protect at least 30 percent of their seas. Estimates show that more than half of Mediterranean shark and ray species face a high risk of extinction due to overfishing, with potential ripple effects on human activities tied to marine ecosystems. The top predators’ presence helps maintain structural diversity across marine habitats, and the studied zones have proven to be a hotspot of diversity for these animals, sheltering some of the last remaining individuals in the basin.
In summary, the project underscores the importance of identifying and preserving critical habitats before pressure from fishing, climate change, and other human factors intensifies. The effort aligns with a global push to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensures that the Mediterranean remains a haven for sharks, rays, and their associated ecosystems. [Citation: Mediterranean Marine Conservation Initiative]
Note: The environmental department continues to coordinate data sharing and further studies to refine protections and support sustainable practices across the region.