July 17, 2023 – 36 of the 54 species of Adriatic sharks and rays are threatened with extinction, the WWF warned on Friday on World Shark Awareness Day. It is also worrying that the populations of sharks and rays are continuously declining while three species are considered extinct.
Some critically endangered species, such as the common pigeon, are still without any protection or management measures, writes 24Sata. The constant postponement of specific actions causes continuous risk for endangered species, thus endangering the long-term sustainability of fisheries and the health of the marine ecosystem, warned WWF Adria.
The fact that 58 percent of all species of sharks and rays are endangered in the Mediterhome to the world’s largest number of endangered species of sharks is also worrying. The Mediterranean is also warming the fastest, so the danger of extinction of these marine animals further increases.
Although sharks are often presented as dangerous predators, especially during the summer season, they are actually in great danger. In the overheated Mediterranean Sea, the role of sharks and rays is crucial and irreplaceable.
Importance of Adriatic Sharks and Rays
“The importance of sharks and stingrays in the Mediterranean Sea is multifaceted. Some species of stingrays act as habitat engineers because they raise sand from the bottom with their fins, thereby creating microhabitats for other smaller marine organisms and helping them find food.
Other species transfer nutrients from one sea layer to another, thereby increasing the wealth of life in the sea. Some species directly influence the mitigation of the consequences of the climate crisis by storing carbon,” says Patrik Krstinić from WWF Adria.
WWF Adria points out that the recent binding decisions of the UN’s World Agriculture Organization give hope for the preservation of marine ecosystems, but Mediterranean countries must take a leading role in fisheries management.
In doing so, they say, it is necessary to allocate adequate resources for the management of fisheries, to ensure constant data collection and monitoring of the state of endangered species, and to involve all stakeholders, especially fishermen, in the formation of new management measures.
“This is the only way we can together preserve important habitats for Adriatic sharks and rays and ensure their survival,” said WWF Adria.
