Blue sharks are one of the most wide-ranging and previously abundant shark species. Now, they are the most heavily fished shark in the world. An estimated 10-20 million individuals are killed by pelagic fisheries annually, mostly as bycatch. Blue shark meat is beginning to replace swordfish in many Mediterranean countries and the fins are commonly used in … Read more
The Oceana Approach is straightforward and uses all available information to protect and preserve living seafloor habitat. Oceana develops research campaigns in the Atlantic and Mediterranean where, with an underwater robot (Remote Operated Vehicle ROV), professional divers and scientists study and document the sea beds: Locate, identify and describe corals and other species that live … Read more
These small sharks have a light colored body with black spots from nose to tail. Adults often school by sex and eggs are deposited on seaweed throughout the year. Small spotted catsharks are caught primarily as shark bycatch or secondary targeted catch in various artisanal and industrial fisheries, especially in the Mediterranean. Many of the sharks … Read more
This specie is not in European waters, it´s easily identified from other grey sharks by a black or dusky spot beneath the snout tip, the blacknose shark has an unusually fast growth rate. Blacknose sharks reach maturity in just two years and produce three to six young at a time. Currently, blacknose sharks are not … Read more
Hawksbill sea turtles are in danger of extinction and are listed as endangered under the Habitat Directive and Barcelona Convention. Capturing and killing hawksbills for their valuable shell, which is used to make hairclips, combs, jewelry and decorative art , is a major threat to the recovery of the species. While the legal international trade … Read more
Possibly the fastest shark and certainly one of the most active, the shortfin mako is only found in tropical and warm temperate seas. During summer months, shortfin makos follow patches of warm water. Shortfin mako sharks are both targeted by longline fisheries for their meat and caught incidentally as bycatch. They are also a popular … Read more
Basking sharks are the second largest living shark, easily distinguished by their huge mouths. These slow, harmless sharks often swim with their mouths open wide in order to filter-feed on plankton, copepods, larvae and fish eggs. Basking sharks are caught in target fisheries around the world for their oil, meat and fins. They are also … Read more
Olive ridley sea turtles, which are named for their olive-colored shell, are listed as threatened, with the exception of a single population that nests in Mexico, which is endangered. The decline of this species is primarily due to capture in commercial fisheries, loss of nesting habitat and continued killing of adults and poaching of eggs.
The distinctive hammer-shaped head may provide improved agility and increased sensor capacity for the scalloped hammerhead shark. A seasonally migratory species, the scalloped hammerhead is often found in schools. The fins are extremely valuable for use in shark fin soup and the scalloped hammerhead is taken both as a target species and as bycatch with … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
