Enhancing the conservation of endangered sharks and rays in the Mediterranean

Over half of the Mediterranean sharks and rays are at risk of extinction. This alarming decrease is linked to the high level of fishing effort and bycatch. The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the European Union banned the retention, landing and sale of several species of vulnerable sharks and rays. However, the level of enforcement of these measures remains largely unknown. The project goal is to identify gaps in bycatch data collection and reporting by Italy.