Sharks play a very important role in the balance of marine ecosystems. Most of the species present in the Balearic Sea have an unfavourable conservation status. For this reason, the Regional Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Environment have drawn up a coordinated action document, which has been joined by five private entities (Majorca Preservation Fund, Marilles, Palma Aquarium, PIM-Iniciatives per les Petites Illes de la Mediterrànea and Save The Med) with the intention of joining forces to recover endangered species and raise public awareness of the importance of maintaining populations.
A first project has already started, which entails breeding the nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris) in captivity. The collaboration of the fishermen's guilds of Formentera and Cala Ratjada has made it possible to have an initial stock of breeding animals in Palma Aquarium, LIMIA and the Cabrera National Park aquarium. The first clutches have already been obtained and it is expected that the first hatchlings will be released in the coming months. The Alitan, specifically, is not an endangered species, but has been selected in order to gain experience and to test the action protocols, which will be applied in the future with other species.