European Sharks

Introduction

LIFE European Sharks will engage European citizens and marine stakeholders in a joint effort to safeguard Mediterranean sharks and rays, the most endangered group of marine species in Europe, threatened by unsustainable levels of accidental captures, pollution, and habitat destruction.

Long-term Goals

The long-term goal is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of Mediterranean elasmobranchs, encouraging co-responsibility and promoting behaviour change as a key factor in reversing their decline across the basin.

Geographic Scope

As sharks and rays are often highly migratory and cross many national borders during their lifetimes, LIFE EUSharks activities will touch:

1. Italy
2. France
3. Croatia
4. Spain
5. Slovenia

This effectively involves the entire Central and Western Mediterranean in the conservation of these species.

Implementation Strategies

Here, it will strengthen the implementation of Union regulations and improve management, with an unprecedented capacity building that will:

• Reduce the mortality of protected species
• Increase the quality of data collection

It will co-design and experiment with professional fishermen's voluntary solutions to curb bycatch mortality, monitoring their socio-economic impact.

Community Engagement

Additionally, the project aims to inspire anglers to increase the survival of sharks and rays with catch & release and safer handling practices. Divers will restore nursery areas and EU Sharks Dive Spots, reducing the risks of entanglement in marine litter and lost fishing gear.

Outreach and Education

Outreach will increase public understanding of the essential role of these charismatic species in the health of Mediterranean ecosystems, shifting the perception of sharks from "dangerous" to "endangered." Chefs and food bloggers will encourage the consumption of local and more sustainable seafood products.

Policy Recommendations

A white paper will include the project's co-created, evidence-based, and locally tested solutions and key policy recommendations. It will be shared across the Mediterranean Sea to assist authorities, policymakers, and communities in implementing shark conservation measures.