The nursehound shark, alitán in Spanish and gatvaire in Catalan, lives in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and is common in the waters of the Balearic Islands at depths between 40 and 80 metres. Unfortunately, nursehound shark populations have been severely threatened by overfishing and other human-related impacts.
Launched in 2021, this project aims to gather more data on this species and work towards increasing its population in the Balearic Sea, as it is classified as an endangered species in the Red Book of Fish of the Balearic Islands.
This reproduction project has successfully reintroduced nursehound sharks born in a controlled artificial environment. Initially, most of the adult sharks involved in the project were rescued from trawling activity and were transferred to the Palma Aquarium Foundation facilities, where the breeding programme began.
Initially, most of the adult sharks involved in the project were rescued from trawling activity and were transferred to Palma Aquarium Foundation facilities, where the breeding programme began. The female sharks started to lay their eggs, which were incubated in temperature-controlled tanks until they hatched. At birth, the young sharks measure approximately 15 centimetres and are raised until they reach 45–50 centimetres in length and weigh between 600 and 800 grams. At this stage, they are fitted with radio transmitters to enable long-term monitoring, which is carried out by the Balearic Tracking Network run by the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA by its Spanish initials).
This initiative has been possible thanks to the alliance between the Palma Aquarium Foundation, the Balearic Government's Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Territory, and several conservation organisations, including the Marilles Foundation, Save The Med, Shark Med, Petites Illes del Mediterrani, the Mallorca Preservation Foundation, and Cabrera National Park. The project also benefits from the collaboration of Balearia and the Fishermen’s Guilds of Formentera and Cala Ratjada.
This initiative has been possible thanks to the alliance between the Palma Aquarium Foundation, the Balearic Government's Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Territory, and several conservation organisations, including the Marilles Foundation, Save The Med, Shark Med, Petites Illes del Mediterrani, the Mallorca Preservation Foundation, and Cabrera National Park. The project also benefits from the collaboration of Balearia and the Fishermen’s Guilds of Formentera and Cala Ratjada.
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