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"the
sharks' cradle" |
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THE
RESEARCH |
Over
100 sandbar sharks
have been
photo-identified
since 2001, based on
scars and markings
on their bodies. At
least three
individuals
catalogued in 2002
have been re-sighted
in 2003 and in 2004.
The birth of a shark
was filmed and two
stillborns recovered
in 2004, plus the
presence of pregnant
females, a large
lajority of the bay
population, confirms
that this is a nursery
area for sandbar
sharks, the only
one known for the
Mediterranean sea. |
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IUCN (the
World Conservation
Union) declared Carcharhinus
plumbeus a 'vulnerable
species'. In the
last ten years the
Atlantic population
of sandbar sharks
dramatically
declined (only
10-15% survives). |
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No
data is available for the Mediterranean but sightings/captures,
which were once very frequent, are now rare. Little is known
about the current extent and ecology of the coastal nursery
habitats of the sandbar shark; there is no information
regarding the Mediterranean population today. |
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This
Turkish bay is the
only known nursery
area in the
Mediterranean.
Nurseries are
extremely sensitive
areas to sandbar
sharks, both for the
perpetuation of
species, and because
in these places they
come closest to
Man's influence and
are therefore
extremely vulnerable.
Gathering
information on these
animals, their
behaviour,
identifying and
protecting their
nursery (-ies?) is
critically important
for the protection
of the species |
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| OBJECTIVES |
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| ID
of the sharks and
their migrationsi
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Adult
sharks swim in the
bay only two months
a year. Where do
they go after that?
Newborns should
remain in the bay
for several months,
until they are big
enough to face the
hazard of life in
the open sea. But is
it true in this
Turkish bay? In
order to find and
answer to these
questions we will
carry out:
- A pluriennal
programme of
photo-identification
of the sharks which
swim in the bay, in
order to verify the
freuqency of their
visits and to star a
database to confront
with specimen caught
in other areas.
- Taggings of males
and females with
permanent and
satellite tags in
order to gain
information on their
migratory routes
through the
Mediterranean sea..
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What
makes this bay so
special?
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Finding
out the
peculiarities of
this bay (in terms
of temperature,
salinity etc) may
show us why this bay
is so special to the
sharks, and that in
turn could give us a
hint on where to
find other nursery
areas as yet unknown.
Identifying and
protecting such
areas is or primary
importance for the
protection of the
species in such a
vulnerable moment of
their lives. |
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| Survey
of other bays |
Are
sharks found in
neighbouring bays?
We will interview
fishermen and
conduct direct
research trying to
identify other
possible bnursery
areas for sandabrs
or other species of
sharks. Informal
talks last year hint
at the possibility
of other species of
sharks, possibly
grey nurse sharks.
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| Dissemination
of the results
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We
believe to be of
foundamental
importance for the
protection and
conservation of this
species to start an
important education
campagin, in order
to inform the public
of the presence and
hardships of sharks
in the Mediterranean
sea.
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