Few elasmobranchs are subject to directed fisheries in the Mediterranean, but the region has the highest percentage of threatened sharks and rays in the world (42%).
Bycatch is the main cause of decline. Catsharks, dogfish and skates have a greater commercial value; other species may be discarded. In Italy elasmobranchs represent less than the 2% of reported total catches.
Bottom trawl fisheries catch various elasmobranchs such as catsharks and skates. Trammel nets may also catch larger species, including even basking and white sharks. Many shark species are taken as bycatch of Mediterranean deep-water fisheries. Migratory oceanic sharks constitute a large component of the bycatch in tuna and swordfish fisheries using longlines, driftnets and purse seines. Large driftnet fisheries are prohibited by the EU but the gear is still used by both EU and non EU boats.
Finning is not known to be practiced in the Mediterranean basin, but recently the Italian Coast Guard stopped a Spanish fishing boat finning in international waters just off the Calabrian coast (13 nautical miles out of Italy).
Eleonora de Sabata
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For more information:
Hareide et al. 2007. European Shark Fisheries: a preliminary investigation into fisheries, conversion factors, trade products, markets and management measures European Elasmobranch Association
